Virola surinamensis
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Magnoliids
Order:	Magnoliales
Family:	Myristicaceae
Genus:	Virola
Species:	V. surinamensis
Binomial name
Virola surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb.) Warb.[2]
Synonyms
Myristica fatua Sw. Myristica fatua Houtt. Myristica gracilis A.DC. Myristica sebifera var. longifolia Lam. Myristica surinamensis Rol. ex Rottb. Palala gracilis (A.DC.) Kuntze Palala surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb.) Kuntze Virola carinata var. gracilis Warb. Virola glaziovii Warb. Virola nobilis A.C. Sm.

Virola surinamensis, known commonly as baboonwood, ucuuba, ucuhuba and chalviande,^[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Myristicaceae. It is found in Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It has also been naturalized in the Caribbean. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, and heavily degraded former forest. Although the species is listed as threatened due to habitat loss by the IUCN, it is a common tree species found throughout Central and South America.^{[citation needed]}

Virola surinamensis grows 25–40 m (82–131 ft) tall. The leaves are 10–22 cm (3.9–8.7 in) long and 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) wide. The fruits are ellipsoidal to subglobular, measuring about 13–21 mm (0.51–0.83 in) long and 11–18 mm (0.43–0.71 in) in diameter.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

The tree is harvested for its wood. It is also a source of traditional medicinal remedies for intestinal worms.^{[citation needed]} The Amazon Indians Waiãpi living in the West of Amapá State of Brazil, treat malaria with an inhalation of vapor obtained from leaves of Viola surinamensis.^[3]

Ucuhuba seed oil

Ucuhuba seed oil is the oil extracted from the seed. It contains 13% lauric acid, 69% myristic acid, 7% palmitic acid, and traces of oleic acid and linoleic acid.^[4] Myristic and lauric acids comprised 91.3 mole % of the total fatty acids. Additional saturated fatty acids such as decanoic acid and stearic acid are minor components.^[5]

Ucuhuba butter

References