Common Name: Huigen

General Information

Schinus polygama is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a low, globose crown; it can grow up to 5 metres tall[]. The bole is about 15 - 25cm in diameter, branching from low down[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its timber and medicinal uses. It is very ornamental and, coupled with its small size, is a good candidate for street planting[].
Schinus polygama has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major
threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - C. Chile, Argentina, southern to northeastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Savannah, woodland edges, rarely in the undergrowth of Araucaria forests and in coastal scrub forests[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.50 m
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Schinus polygama is a plant of the warm temperate to tropical zones, usually found at moderate elevations in the tropics. Plants are very variable in their cold tolerance depending on their provenance, with some able to withstand temperatures below freezing[]. Most forms are not very hardy outdoors in cooler parts of the temperate zone, but selected forms succeed when grown against a sunny wall[]. A plant growing in a fairly sunny position, but under quite dense tree cover, at Hilliers Arboretum in Hampshire (zone 7) is thriving and had set a large crop of fruit in September 1996[].
Prefers a well-drained soil[], succeeding in a hot dry position[]. It requires a sunny position in a poor rather than rich soil[, ].
Plants are intolerant of root disturbance[].
Dioecious, both male and female forms must be grown if seed is required.

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. Used as a flavouring[].

Medicinal

The fruit, and a resin obtained from the fruit, is antirheumatic[].

The resin obtained from the trunk is used in the treatment of insect larvae in the body[].

Other Uses

An aromatic resin is obtained from the fruit of this species, it is mainly used medicinally[].
A heavy oil is obtained from the fruits[].
A resin is obtained from the trunk[]. It is used medicinally[].

The leaves are rich in tannin[].

The wood is straight-grained, fine-textured, moderately heavy, hard, with moderate mechanical properties and of low durability[]. It is used for making small artefacts[].
The wood is used as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a nursery seedbed in a semi-shaded position[]. A high germination rate is usually achieved within 20 - 30 days[]. Transplant the seedlings to individual containers when they are about 4 - 5cm tall and plant out when about 20 - 30cm tall.
Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 8cm with a heel, August to early September in a frame. Fair to good percentage[].