Lithraea molleoides

Lithraea molleoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Sapindales Family: Anacardiaceae Genus: Lithraea Species: L. molleoides
Binomial name
Lithraea molleoides (Vell.) Engl.

Lithraea molleoides (syn. Lithraea molleoides var. lorentziana Lillo, Lithraea ternifolia, Schinus brasiliensis Marchand ex Cabrera, Schinus leucocarpus M., Schinus molleoides (Vell.) Engler, Lithraea aroeirinha Marchand ex Warm. ) is a tree (2.5 and 8 m tall) that is native to South America, specially in Argentina, Bolivia, and Cerrado vegetation of Brazil.

This plant is used as a honey plant and medicinal plant in the form of alcoholic extracts, decoctions, and infusions for the treatment of arthritis, bronchitis, cough, and diseases of the digestive system. It is also used as diuretic, hemostatic, tonic agent, and tranquillizer. Furthermore, it has antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory proprieties. In contrast, it is a poisonous plant because it can cause allergic sensitivity, skin disease, fever, and visual problems.

See also

• List of plants of Cerrado vegetation of Brazil
• List of honey plants

External links

• (Spanish) Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad: Lithraea molleoidesTemplate:Sapindales-stub