Common Name: Chica

General Information

Ramorinoa girolae is a small, spine-tipped tree with rigid branches and leaves that have been reduced to very small scales so that the tree appears to be leafless[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood.
Ramorinoa girolae is currently considered to be a "Vulnerable" species for several reasons including its restricted geographical distribution, slow growth and low resistance to fire. Moves are underway, however, to include it in the 'Endangered' category of the IUCN List of Threatened Species[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - western Argentina

Habitat

Dry, sandy areas, forming groves in mountainous foothills; at elevations from 2,000 - 3,200 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ramorinoa girolae is native to the warm temperate and subtropical desert regions of western Argentina between the latitudes 29 - 33° south[].
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil.

Edible Uses

Seed - raw or roasted[]. The seeds have an important nutritional value, containing a high percentage of proteins (21.2%) and lipids (29.3%)[]. The phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the seeds are an indicator of their ability to offer potential health benefits when included in the diet[].
The roasted seeds are a coffee substitute[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is very hard[]. It is used for various purposes within its native range[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination[]. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].