Barbasco, cube, timbo, nicou, lancepod

Deguelia utilis

Physical Characteristics

Deguelia utilis is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. America - Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

The plant contains some compounds similar to curare. Traditional healers crush the bark until a white milky substance exudes, they take one spoonful of this and retire. Twenty-four hours later they relate their visions to the tribes people[ 748 ].

Known Hazards

The plant is used as a fish poison[ 748 ]. Cube resin, the root extract from cube and from barbasco (Lonchocarpus urucu), is used as a commercial insecticide and piscicide (fish poison). The major active ingredients are rotenone and deguelin. Although "organic" (produced by nature) rotenone is no longer considered an environmentally safe chemical.