Machaerium stipitatum
StarMachaerium stipitatum
Synonyms: Machaerium paniculatum, Machaerium minutiflorum
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
In Brazilian folk medicine the bark of Machaerium stipitatum has been used to treat diarrhoea and cough, and it has also been employed in folk remedies for cancer (genus Machaerium ethnobotanical reviews). Related species of the genus are used similarly in South and Central America; for example, the stem bark of Machaerium acutifolium is traditionally used against inflammatory complaints.
Botanical Description
Machaerium stipitatum is a semi-deciduous tree in the legume family Fabaceae, native to Brazil and northeastern Argentina, where it grows in moist tropical forest, gallery forest and forest margins. It develops a much-branched, upright, broadly pyramidal crown and commonly reaches 10 to 20 metres in height, with a trunk that in older trees can bear the spines typical of the genus. The leaves are alternate and pinnately compound, with numerous small, alternate leaflets that are oblong to elliptic, and conspicuous stipules at the leaf base, reflected in the epithet stipitatum. The pea-like flowers are small and borne in branched panicles, ranging from whitish to pale purple. The fruit is the distinctive samara-like pod of Machaerium, a flattened, one-seeded indehiscent pod with a wing that aids wind dispersal. The species is used locally for timber and is planted in restoration and reforestation, being a fairly fast-growing pioneer of disturbed forest.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.
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