Rural do Semi-Árido

General information

Summary description

A very common plant in Caatinga, the Imburana is widely present in the culture, medicine, and regional instruments around the Sertão nordestino.

Scientific nomenclature

The scientific name for Imburana is Commiphora leptophloes (Mart.) J. B. Gillet, a plant from the Burseraceae botany family. Synonyms: Bursera leptophloes Mart; Bursera martiana Engl.; Icica leptophloes Mart. (MAIA, 2012).

Local names

Amburana, amburana-de-cambão, emburana, imburana, imburana-brava, imburana-de-cambão, imburana-de-espinho, imburana-fêmea, imburana-vermelha, imburaninha, jamburana, umburana, umburana-de-espinho, and umburana-vermelha.

Cultural and economic importance

Parts of the plant are used for syrup (for a cough and bronchitis), restorative and healing when treating wounds, gastritis, and ulcers (CNIP, 2017). Well used locally for sculptures and household goods, and in animals as shoulder yoke or cambão (kind of harness) to avoid their escape through a fence. It is also recommended for beautification projects due to its characteristics. Its wood is used in woodwork, constructions (doors, windows), furnishings and other services, such as boxes and small objects; as well as stakes in outside work (CARVALHO, 2009).

Ecological importance

This is a key species to native bees. Many species of social and solitary bees build their nests in hollow trunks of Imburana. Stingerless bees, such as Melipona subnitida (locally know as Jandaíra), are frequently found in these trees. The use of Imburana for recovery of degraded areas also favors the apiculture in Brazillian Northeast.

Geographical distribution

The Imburana is present, in the Brazillian Northeast, in shrublands of Caatinga in limestone grounds, and in the Pantanal (state of Mato Grosso). Frequently seen in the central valley of São Francisco river.

Botanic description

Size, crown shape, color, growth habit

It is a resinous tree, averaging heights of 6 to 9 m (about 19.6 to 29.6 ft), with branches showing tortuous growth, and acute and strong thorns.

Vegetative characteristics

• Trunk and bark

Its trunk is smooth, reddish and lustrous, with 40 to 60 cm (15.7 to 23.6in) in diameter, detaching thin blades with rolled edges. Bark color may vary from green when young to reddish-orange when old, and leaden when in periods of very dry season and in dying plants.

• Leaves

Compound opposite leaves, odd-pinnate, with 3 to 9 leaflets (usually 7), oval, with 1.5 to 3.5 cm (4.9 to 11.5in) in length, releasing a smell of resin when damaged.

• Flower/inflorescence

Small flowers, from 3 to 4 cm (1.18 to 1.57in) in length, isolated or arranged in small groups.

• Fruit, seeds and dispersal syndrome

Fruits are capsule-type, fleshy, dehiscent, greenish membranous, with bittersweet pulp. Edible when mature.

Its seeds are rigid, rugged, larger than 1 cm (.39in) in diameter, dark color with a white base and red arillus. Dispersion is made mainly by birds.

Seed technology

Germination

Imburana germinates in high temperatures (30-35°C). Its emergence occurs in a few weeks after sowing, and its germination rate is below 50%.

Seed storage

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Seed health

The following saprophyte fungi genres where identified in seeds of umburana-de-cheiro: Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus sp., and Paecilomyces sp. (FAIAD et al., 1997).

Seedling production

Growth capacity

Its cultivation is made in partially shaded-seedling beds with irrigation twice a day. Before transplanting to the field, seedlings must be transplanted to individual vessels and kept in a waiting nursery for 5 to 7 months, when they are ready to be put in the field (CNIP, 2017).

Vegetative propagation may be done via cuttings. Cuttings planted before the start of the raining season are mostly successful and are used to build living fences (CARVALHO, 2009).

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