Carapa | |
---|---|
Carapa guianensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Meliaceae |
Subfamily: | Cedreloideae |
Genus: |
Carapa Aubl. |
Species | |
See text | |
Range of Carapa guianensis |
Carapa is a genus of flowering plants in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. These are trees up to 30 meters tall occurring in tropical South America, Central America, [1] and Africa. Common names include andiroba and crabwood.
The list of species within this genus is still under discussion. Generally recognized species are:
Other proposed species:
The timber is important, and oil is produced from the seeds. The name andiroba is from Nheengatu nhandi rob, meaning "bitter oil". Carapa guianensis produces oil similar[ clarification needed] to neem oil.
The oil contained in the almond andiroba is light yellow and extremely bitter. When subjected to a temperature below 25 °C, it solidifies producing a consistency like that of petroleum jelly. The oil contains olein, palmitine and glycerin.[ citation needed]
Andiroba oil is one of the most commonly sold medicinal oils in the Amazon.[ citation needed] It is also used to repel mosquitoes by forming an oilseed cake into balls and burned, or mixed with annatto (Bixa orellana) and formed into a paste applied topically to protect the body from mosquito bites. [5]
Andiroba oil is extracted from light brown seeds collected from beaches and rivers, where they float after being shed by the trees or from the forest ground.
Carapa | |
---|---|
Carapa guianensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Meliaceae |
Subfamily: | Cedreloideae |
Genus: |
Carapa Aubl. |
Species | |
See text | |
Range of Carapa guianensis |
Carapa is a genus of flowering plants in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. These are trees up to 30 meters tall occurring in tropical South America, Central America, [1] and Africa. Common names include andiroba and crabwood.
The list of species within this genus is still under discussion. Generally recognized species are:
Other proposed species:
The timber is important, and oil is produced from the seeds. The name andiroba is from Nheengatu nhandi rob, meaning "bitter oil". Carapa guianensis produces oil similar[ clarification needed] to neem oil.
The oil contained in the almond andiroba is light yellow and extremely bitter. When subjected to a temperature below 25 °C, it solidifies producing a consistency like that of petroleum jelly. The oil contains olein, palmitine and glycerin.[ citation needed]
Andiroba oil is one of the most commonly sold medicinal oils in the Amazon.[ citation needed] It is also used to repel mosquitoes by forming an oilseed cake into balls and burned, or mixed with annatto (Bixa orellana) and formed into a paste applied topically to protect the body from mosquito bites. [5]
Andiroba oil is extracted from light brown seeds collected from beaches and rivers, where they float after being shed by the trees or from the forest ground.