Uxi Liso - Endopleura Uchi

[amazondk]

One of my favorite Amazonian trees is the Endopleura uxhi, known as the uxi liso, or smooth uxi. This tree is a primary forest tree and grows to be very tall and very big in the forest. There is a beaurtiful specimen at the Tropical Hotel here. I stopped by to take a few pictures. I love the way the branches weep and the leaves hang down. The fruit is an important food source in the forest. And, the bark is used to make medicinal teas.

[carver]

Cool tree, not much info on it. What's the fruit like?

[DoomsDave]

That is a cool tree, tell us more, tell us more!

[amazondk]

The uxi is one of many fruit trees found in the forest here. It like many other trees also is used for medicine. The bark is dried and boiled for about ten minutes. You then drink the resulting tea. The tree is known for anti bactrial properties. It is also said to be good for blood circulation and lowering blood pressure. My wife told me that when the liquid is applied to wounds they heal faster. The fruit has sort of a strange taste that I think one needs to aquire.

dk

[ariscott]

Very cool, Don!! I love these trees that you posted.... as we don't hear much about trees from your area...

Regards, Ari

[Al in Kona]

That UXI LISO is a very ornamental looking tree. I've never noticed that tree here in Hawaii. Do you know what its water requirements are? Can it handle a short dry season?

[amazondk]

Ari,

There are so many kinds of trees and few of them are cultivated. Of course they all have to be in a tropical climate to do ok. In one hectare of forest here they may be 750 species of trees growing and as much as 1,500 species of higher plants. So, there are a lot of options to grow.

Al,

The do fine with a dry season. Our dry season here lasts from 3 to 4 months with little rainfall. This tree is found in Terra Firme forests which are never flooded either. Yesterday I saw a program on National Geographic Channel about forests. One of the parts of the program was about study being done on a foreest I think in Peru. The program was sponsored by WWF, so it was had a very definate save the forests or they will disappear slant. One thing that a researcher brought up was that it is not that there is less rain in Amazonia. It just falls during a shorteer part of the year. How they know that since the forest has been studied for such a little time I really do not know. I really do not believe the gloom and doom they protrayed anyway and I live in the heart of Amazonia. What is true is that during the ice ages Amazonia was cooler and drier. And, from all indications in large areas the forest remained. It appears that the forest is more resilient than had been prviously thought. Of course if it is all cut down or fragmented into small parts it will be the end. But, at least from what I can see this will not happen. In fact it is more likely the opposite will. There is a growing movement by ranchers around the southern part of Amazonia to regenerate forest especially in areas near water. The cows are not going to go away. But, their impact will likely be mitigated.

dk

[ariscott]

Lucky you, Don... Just remember me when you happen to get excess seeds

Regards, Ari

[Peter]

Very interesting Don; I also love hearing about trees in your area. Please continue to post these threads, particularly about any interesting flowering trees. Thnaks again!

[palmmermaid]

Don,

This looks like a tree my neighbors have. They are from Guyana and Hindus and have many of their plants here. The canopy is very thick and they climb up and get the fruit. She also told me she uses the bark to make a tea. Beautiful tree. It did very well duing the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005. It has also held up very well in our recent cold.

[Cindy Adair]

Fascinating tree. Another for my "wish list"....