Brosimum
Brosimum is a genus of plants in the family Moraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas.
The breadnut was used by the Maya civilization for its edible nut. The dense vividly colored scarlet wood of B. rubescens is used for decorative woodworking. B. guianense, or snakewood, has a mottled snake-skin pattern, and is among the densest woods, with a very high stiffness; it was the wood of choice for making of bows for musical instruments of the violin family until the late 18th century, when it was replaced by the more easily worked brazilwood. Plants of this genus are otherwise used for timber, building materials, and in a cultural context.
Bufotenin has been identified as a component in the latex of the takini tree, which is used as a psychedelic by South American shamans.
Species
19 species are accepted.Brosimum acutifolium – tamamuriBrosimum alicastrum Sw. – breadnut, Maya nut, ramón Brosimum amazonicum Brosimum costaricanum Liebm.Brosimum gaudichaudii Trecul — Mama-cadelaBrosimum glaucum Taub.Brosimum glaziovii Taub.Brosimum guianense Huber ex Ducke – snakewood Brosimum lactescens C.C.BergBrosimum longifolium DuckeBrosimum melanopotamicum C.C.BergBrosimum multinervium C.C.BergBrosimum parinarioides Ducke- * Brosimum parinarioides ssp. amplicoma C.C.Berg
- * Brosimum parinarioides ssp. parinarioidesBrosimum potabile Brosimum rubescens Taub. — satine bloodwoodBrosimum sprucei Brosimum steyermarkii Brosimum utile Oken