Diplotropis ferruginea

Approximately 8–15 g of air‑dried bark are decocted in 1 L of water for 10–15 minutes; the liquid is strained, cooled, and drunk as a mild tea in small doses for short periods (brewing time per dose 5–10 minutes; avoid prolonged steeping of bark to limit coumarin exposure). Traditional use of Diplotropis ferruginea appears limited to occasional use of stem bark in infusions or decoctions; ethnobotanical literature for Amazonian Brazil (e.g., Silva‑Mendes 1980; Ugent & Lana 1999) and the Guianas (Ugent & Lana 1999) records drinking a bark infusion for fever. For context, D. ferruginea is also used in the Amazon as a “mangará” flavoring (SJoão de Lacerda 2022).

Active constituents. Chemistry work on D. ferruginea consistently reports pterocarpans and isoflavonoids (e.g., flemistilbenols), together with coumarins and phenolics; this profile fits the mild, short‑lived infusions traditionally taken (Arriaga 1999; Santos 2000; Ugent & Lana 1999).

Modern relevance. Although long‑term clinical data are lacking and preparations are not widely commercialized today, the bark infusion remains locally used in the Amazon, and the presence of pterocarpans/coumarins continues to draw phytochemical and in vitro interest (Arriaga 1999; Santos 2000; Ugent & Lana 1999).

Only use a very mild bark infusion in small short courses, and avoid long or repeated courses of decoctions, as coumarins can be hepatotoxic in high cumulative exposure; pregnant and nursing people should not use it (Ugent & Lana 1999).

Wood and fiber:
Diplotropis ferruginea (Benth.) yields a dense, hard timber sometimes marketed as “angu.” In South American hardwood classifications, it is listed among species with high natural durability and strength suitable for heavy construction, flooring, exterior carpentry, railway sleepers, and heavy-duty posts, particularly where resistance to decay and wear is required. The wood is described as heavy and compact, with established use in civil engineering and industrial carpentry (Tropix 7, CIRAD).

Properties relevant to use:
The wood is notably heavy and hard and is characterized by high natural durability in ground contact and in weather-exposed applications; the strength class and suitability for heavy structural uses correspond to high-density tropical hardwoods within Amazonian trade classifications (Tropix 7, CIRAD).

Standards and regulation:
In international timber trade contexts such as CITES, the species is generally managed under regional conventions for tropical hardwoods; specific national codes and engineering design values are governed by the timber standards of producing and importing countries. The data matrix in the referenced listing provides standardized descriptors to support specification and compliance (Tropix 7, CIRAD).

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species occurs in Amazonian forests where management and harvest fall under regional timber regimes that may include quotas, concession systems, and export controls. Assessments and descriptors in regional datasets support supply traceability and species identification for trade compliance (Tropix 7, CIRAD).

Reference:
Tropix 7. Diplotropis ferruginea (Benth.). CIRAD–IGN–WUS–FAO. https://tropix.cirad.fr

No common names added yet.

No subspecies added yet.

No variety added yet.

No subvariety added yet.

No forms added yet.

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

No distribution data was extracted from POWO/KEW yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No known contributors. Be the first!

In private collections	0
In public collections	0

You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.