Description and Distribution
– Carapa guianensis is native to the Amazon region.
– It also grows in Central America and the Caribbean.
– This tree is tall with dense foliage.
– It is typically found along the edge of rivers in tropical rainforests.
Uses
– The timber of Carapa guianensis is used in furniture and flooring.
– The wood is related to mahogany and has a similar appearance.
– Andiroba oil, extracted from the almond of this tree, is light yellow and bitter.
– The oil solidifies at temperatures below 25°C.
– The oil and fats are used for insect repellent and traditional medicine.
Conservation Status
– Carapa guianensis is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
– Its conservation status was assessed in 2017.
– The species name is Carapa guianensis.
– Reference: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
References
– Rivers, M.C., Barstow, M. & Mark, J. 2017. Carapa guianensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.
– Hammer, M. L.; Johns, E. A. (1993). Tapping an Amazônian plethora: Four medicinal plants of Marajó Island, Pará (Brazil).
– Roy, A; Saraf, S (2006). Limonoids: Overview of significant bioactive triterpenes distributed in plants kingdom.
– De Mendonça, F. A.; Da Silva, K. F.; Dos Santos, K. K.; Ribeiro Júnior, K. A.; SantAna, A. E. (2005). Activities of some Brazilian plants against larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti.
– Silva, O. S.; Romão, P. R.; Blazius, R. D.; Prohiro, J. S. (2004). The use of andiroba Carapa guianensis as larvicide against Aedes albopictus.
Additional Information
– Carapa guianensis has a distribution map available.
– Indigenous populations in northern Brazil widely use this tree. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapa_guianensis
