Guazuma ulmifolia
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401f3130f27914707636 |
| Scientific name | Guazuma ulmifolia |
| Authority | Lam. |
| First published in | Encycl. 3: 52 (1789) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Unfortunately, there is no reliable, verifiable ethnobotanical record for infusions, decoctions, tinctures, macerations, or poultices of Guazuma ulmifolia that meets the rigorous sourcing requirements for this listing.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Guazuma ulmifolia supplies timber, fiber for paper pulp and cordage, and a mucilaginous gum/resin (mutamba gum). The fruit is edible and used as flavoring for cachaça (Caipirinha) and similar sugarcane spirits.
Industrial and craft applications:
The tree provides pulp suitable for paper and card. Its bast fiber yields a strong cordage. Mutamba gum is used as an adhesive in bookbinding, pottery, and as a sizing agent for textiles. Tropical hardwood attributes include a density of about 0.65–0.70 g/cm³ at 12% moisture and a tangential shrinkage of about 6.7%, supporting general carpentry and tool handle uses.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The ripe fruit is processed into pulp, syrups, and flavoring for sugarcane spirits, notably cachaça; commercial flavor blends list G. ulmifolia as a Brazilian fruit contributor.
Colorants and tanning:
A bark extract produces a light brown dye for textiles. Bark tannins (>10% in some samples) are used in low-strength tanning, historically alongside other species, with color resulting from condensed tannins.
Wood and fiber:
The wood is valued for construction, carpentry, furniture, and tool handles. Fiber is used for pulp (e.g., short-fiber pulps for writing/printing papers) and cordage.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
Fruity aroma components from the fruit are used in flavor/fragrance applications; gum functions as a natural binder and thickener in cosmetic formulations.
Properties relevant to use:
Tannins classed as condensed (proanthocyanidins) yield brown hues and moderate tanning power. The gum contains uronic acid–rich polysaccharides that confer high water-binding and adhesive activity. Wood density, shrinkage, and moderate Janka hardness (~4–5 kN) underpin its use as structural timber. Fruit pulp solids of ~10–15% support confectionery and beverage flavoring; acetyl and lignin values and holocellulose contents (about 82–85% in some fibers) indicate pulping suitability.
Standards and regulation:
Timber may follow trade classifications and moisture standards (e.g., ISO/ASTM moisture adjustment). National cosmetic ingredient listings govern gum use in formulations.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Often harvested from silvopastoral systems; mature tree harvest combined with short-rotation regrowth and off-take management is recommended to maintain supply and biodiversity.
References:
Lorenzi H. Árvores Brasileiras (1992); Cruz EP et al., Guia de Ilustração Botânica (2001); Lorenzi H & Harri L, Frutas Brasileiras e Exóticas Cultivadas (2006); CABI Compendium (2023); IPNI record; World Agroforestry (ICRAF) database entries for Guazuma ulmifolia.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Theobroma guazuma | L. | Sp. Pl. : 782 (1753) |
| Theobroma tomentosum | (Kunth) M.Gómez | Anales Soc. Esp. Hist. Nat. 19: 217 (1890) |
| Bubroma guasuma | Willd. | Sp. Pl., ed. 4 , 3: 1423 (1802) |
| Bubroma polybotryum | (Cav.) Willd. | Enum. Pl. : 806 (1809) |
| Bubroma tomentosum | (Kunth) Spreng. | Syst. Veg. 3: 332 (1826) |
| Bubroma ulmifolia | (Lam.) Oken | Allg. Naturgesch. 3(2): 1204 (1841) |
| Diuroglossum rufescens | Turcz. | Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou 25(II): 157 (1852) |
| Guazuma blumei | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 1: 523 (1831) |
| Guazuma burbroma | Tussac | Fl. Antill. 4: 69 (1827) |
| Guazuma coriacea | Rusby | Bull. New York Bot. Gard. 4: 332 (1907) |
| Guazuma guazuma | (L.) Cockerell | Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 19(3): 95. 1892 |
| Guazuma guazuma var. ulmifolia | (Lam.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 24 (1898) |
| Guazuma parvifolia | A.Rich. | Hist. Phys. Cuba, Pl. Vasc. 190. |
| Guazuma polybotrya | Cav. | Icon. 3: 51 (1795) |
| Guazuma tomentosa | Kunth | Nov. Gen. Sp. 5: 32 (1821) |
| Guazuma tomentosa var. parvifolia | Kitan. | Fitologiya 11: 48 (1979) |
| Guazuma ulmifolia var. glabra | K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 81 (1886) |
| Guazuma ulmifolia var. tomentosa | (Kunth) K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 81 (1886) |
| Guazuma ulmifolia var. trianae | K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 82 (1886) |
| Guazuma ulmifolia var. velutina | K.Schum. | Fl. Bras. 12(3): 81 (1886) |
| Guazuma utilis | Poepp. | Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 3: 72 (1845) |
| Guazuma tomentosa var. cumanensis | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 1: 523 1831 |
| Guazuma tomentosa var. monpoxensis | G.Don | Gen. Hist. 1: 523 1831 |
| Guazuma guazuma var. tomentosa | (Kunth) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl. 3(2): 24 (1898) |
| Bubroma guazuma | (L.) Willd. | Sp. Pl. 3(2): 1423 1802 |
| Theobroma celtifolium | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton : 387 (1796) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | bastardcedar |
| Spanish | guácima |
| Spanish | guácimo |
| Spanish | guacimo |
| Spanish | bubroma grandiflorum |
| Spanish | bubroma invira |
| Spanish | guacima |
| Spanish | guasima |
| Spanish | guásima |
| jv | jati walanda |
| Malayalam | കാട്ടുരുദ്രാക്ഷം |
| Chinese | 毛可可 |
| Chinese | 瘤果麻 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
Western Indian Ocean
- Mauritius
- Réunion
-
Western Indian Ocean
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
-
Indo-China
- Vietnam
-
Indian Subcontinent
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Mexico
- Mexico Central
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Northeast
- Mexico Northwest
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
-
Mexico
-
Southern America click to expand
-
Brazil
- Brazil North
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil South
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
-
Caribbean
- Cayman Islands
- Cuba
- Dominican Republic
- Haiti
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Southwest Caribbean
- Trinidad-Tobago
- Venezuelan Antilles
- Windward Islands
-
Central America
- Belize
- Costa Rica
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Panamá
-
Northern South America
- French Guiana
- Guyana
- Suriname
- Venezuela
-
Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Paraguay
-
Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Galápagos
- Peru
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000711645 |
| UNII | L4W707YWSL |
| USDA Plants | GUUL |
| Tropicos | 30400486 |
| INPN | 447624 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:823393-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2834705 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 287260 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 526994 |
| Observations.org | 209557 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 93772 |
| IUCN Red List | 61785778 |
| IPNI | 823393-1 |
| iNaturalist | 154538 |
| GBIF | 3152195 |
| Freebase | /m/0bwgq4t |
| EPPO | GUZUL |
| EOL | 584815 |
| Elurikkus | 365975 |
| USDA GRIN | 312760 |
| Wikipedia | Guazuma_ulmifolia |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Very long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Lignoceric Acid | 11197 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)O | 368.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (4R,4aR,6aS,6aS,6bS,8aS,12aR,14aR,14bR)-4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-2,4,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picen-3-one | 162968765 | Click to see CC1C(=O)CCC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 |
| 10-Acetyloxy-2,2,6a,6b,9,9,12a-heptamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 619165 | Click to see | 498.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| 3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid | 619166 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| 3-O-Acetyloleanolic Acid | 151202 | Click to see | 498.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| 4,4a,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14a-octamethyl-5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,12,12a,13,14,14b-dodecahydro-4H-picen-3-one | 23222909 | Click to see | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| beta-Sitosteryl stearate | 13828710 | Click to see | 681.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Betulin | 72326 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)CO | 442.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 |
| Fridel-1-en-3-one | 11384730 | Click to see CC1C(=O)C=CC2C1(CCC3C2(CCC4(C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C)C)C)C)C | 424.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Friedelan-3-one | 244297 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Friedelin | 91472 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Lup-20(29)-ene-3beta,28-diol | 221023 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 |
| Methyl oleanolate acetate | 10255859 | Click to see | 512.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Olean-12-en-28-oic acid, 3beta-hydroxy-, methyl ester, acetate | 609115 | Click to see CC(=O)OC1CCC2(C(C1(C)C)CCC3(C2CC=C4C3(CCC5(C4CC(CC5)(C)C)C(=O)OC)C)C)C | 512.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| Oleanolic Acid | 10494 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 |
| (3S,8R,9S,10R,13R,14R,17S)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 162965368 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0028-1097596 https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzopyrans / 1-benzopyrans / Xanthones / 4-prenylated xanthones | |||||
| Gerontoxanthone C | 14259059 | Click to see | 396.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Dracunculin | 5319474 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=C3C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O3)OCO2 | 220.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 4-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| 3,3'-Methylenebis(4,6-dihydroxycoumarin) | 129881889 | Click to see C1=CC2=C(C=C1O)C(=C(C(=O)O2)CC3=C(C4=C(C=CC(=C4)O)OC3=O)O)O | 368.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S10600-010-9722-2 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-8-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,5,7-triol | 16163749 | Click to see | 1155.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-6-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-4-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,5,7-triol | 14309768 | Click to see | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-8-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-4-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-6-yl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromene-3,5,7-triol | 14237654 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(OC4=C(C(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5C(C(OC6=CC(=CC(=C56)O)O)C7=CC(=C(C=C7)O)O)O)C8=CC(=C(C=C8)O)O)O)O)C9=CC(=C(C=C9)O)O)O | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Cinnamtannin A2 | 16130899 | Click to see | 1155.00 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| ent-Epicatechin-(4alpha->6)-ent-epicatechin | 13990892 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Epicatechin-(4beta->6)-epicatechin-(4beta->8)-epicatechin | 10865804 | Click to see | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Epicatechin-(4beta-8)-epicatechin-(4beta-6)-epicatechin | 14237653 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(OC4=C(C(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5C(C(OC6=CC(=CC(=C56)O)O)C7=CC(=C(C=C7)O)O)O)C8=CC(=C(C=C8)O)O)O)O)C9=CC(=C(C=C9)O)O)O | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Proanthocyanidin B2 | 5320711 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Procyanidin B | 130556 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Procyanidin B2, (+)- | 122738 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Procyanidin B5 | 124017 | Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Procyanidin C1 | 169853 | Click to see | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Procyanidin trimer T2 | 13751990 | Click to see | 866.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(95)00855-1 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |