Couma macrocarpa

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Lamiids
Ordo: Gentianales

Familia: Apocynaceae
Subfamilia: Rauvolfioideae
Tribus: Willughbeieae
Subtribus: Lacmelleinae
Genus: Couma
Species: Couma macrocarpa
Name

Couma macrocarpa Barb.Rodr., 1891
Synonyms

Heterotypic
Couma sapida Pittier, Bol. Ci. Técn. Mus. Comercial Venezuela 1: 69 (1925).
Couma guatemalensis Standl., Trop. Woods 7: 8 (1926).
Couma capiron Pittier, Bol. Soc. Venez. Ci. Nat. 5: 312 (1939).
Couma caurensis Pittier, Bol. Soc. Venez. Ci. Nat. 5: 313 (1939).

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Southern America
Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia (Pando), Guyana, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, N-Brazil (Roraima, Para, Amazonas, Acre, Rondonia), NE-Brazil (Bahia), WC-Brazil (Mato Grosso), Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolivar, Monagas, Zulia), Panama, Colombia (Amazonas, Antioquia, Bolvar, Caquet, Choc, Guaina, Guaviare, Nario, Putumayo, Santander, Valle, Vaups, Vichada)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Barbosa Rodrigues, J., 1891. Vellosia ed. 2, 1:32, t. 1, fig. b.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. Couma macrocarpa in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Oct. 24. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2018. Couma macrocarpa. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Oct. 24. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Couma macrocarpa. Published online. Accessed: Oct. 24 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Couma macrocarpa in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Oct. 24.
Tropicos.org 2018. Couma macrocarpa. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Oct. 24.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Couma macrocarpa in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
português: cumã-uaçu, sorva-grande, sorveira

Couma macrocarpa, known by the common names leche caspi, leche huayo, sorva (a name it shares with its smaller relative Couma utilis), and cow tree, is a species of tropical plant native to tropical, humid Central and South America from Belize to Bolivia.

Ideal environmental conditions for Couma macrocarpa are:

average annual maximum temperature of 25.1 °C
average annual minimum temperature of 17.2 °C
average annual precipitation: 3,419 mm. (max) and 1,020 mm (min).

It is found at variable altitudes from sea level to 1000 metres, in non-flooding areas with good drainage and in soils of good fertility. It adapts well to ultisols and oxisols and can tolerate long dry periods.

In the Peruvian Amazon it is cultivated for its latex. It is grown in Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Huánuco, and Pasco. The sticky white latex is eaten for treating diarrhea and skin ailments. It is used for patching, sealing and to waterproof canoes. The latex has been harvested for use in plastics and rubber. The fruits are chewy, milky, and sweet-tasting and attract monkeys.