Region: south America, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Surinam.
Habitat: semideciduous forests; towards the tops of hills; well-drained, sandy soils; gregarious; moist tropics; elevations up to 1000 metres; prefers a sunny position; succeeds in dry soils of low fertility; drought tolerant.
Content: diterpenes.
Use: food, medicines fibre and wood; seeds as a condiment, substitute for black pepper; elegant tree for ornamental in landscaping; bark fibre to make rough ropes, for boat cables; wood for masts of small boats, stays, wagon wheels.
BotanyEvergreen tree; globose, open crown; 6 to 8 metres tall; slow to establish and grow when young.
Stem: cylindrical; 25 to 35 cm in diameter; wood light in weight, soft, sufficiently flexible, moderately durable when kept dry, easy to work.
Seeds: aromatic