Muskwood , Carrapeta, Cedro Macho

Guarea guidonia

Physical Characteristics

Guarea guidonia is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama, Costa Rica; Caribbean.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Antiasthmatic Cardiac Emetic Emmenagogue Expectorant Haemostatic Purgative Styptic A decoction of the whole, crushed plant is drunk as a treatment for angina, asthma and dyspnoea[348 ]. The resin obtained from the leaves and the stem, as well as the pulverised bark, is used locally as styptic[317 ]. The stem bark is emetic (in larger doses), expectorant, haemostatic and purgative[46 , 317 , 348 ]. A decoction is used to induce vomiting and to treat infant's thrush[348 ]. Applied externally, the powdered bark is used as a haemostatic to stem bleeding[46 ]. The liquid obtained from the rasped bark is rubbed onto skin in order to relieve body aches[348 ]. The boiled leaves are used as an emetic[348 ]. The bark contains the alkaloid rusbyine[46 ]. A juice obtained from the roots and stems is abortifacient, emmenagogue, purgative and violently emetic[348 ]. The juice is a corrosive poison which can be counteracted by an infusion of buds of Jatropha curcas[348 ]. Extracts of the bark and wood contain beta-sitosterol[348 ]. The seed contains angustinolide, a tetranotriterpenoid[348 ].

Known Hazards

The juice of the plant is a corrosive poison which can be counteracted by an infusion of the buds of Jatropha curcas[348 ]. The leaves are considered to be toxic to cattle[419 ].