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Uncaria gambir

Authority (Hunter) Roxb. Family Magnoliopsida:Asteridae:Rubiales:Rubiaceae Synonyms Common names Bengal gambir, gambeiro, gambier, gambir da India Editor Ecocrop code 10663

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A woody, climbing liana often cultivated as a shrub, with square young stems and erect main stems bearing horizontal branches. Leaves entire, ovate to elliptic and 6-15 cm long. USES The resinous substance extracted from the leaves and young branches of gambier is crystallized and traded in small cubes or blocks. It has tree major uses: leather tanning, stimulating chewed with betel nut and medicinal. It is also used in dying of silk and batik and as a clearing agent for beer. GROWING PERIOD Perennial, growing 12-18 months before first harvest, reaching highest yields after 8 years, and with an economical life of about 15-20 years. The full lifespand may be up to 60 years. It can be harvested with intervals of 4-6 months. (GMIN and GMAX estimated by the compiler). COMMON NAMES Gambier, White cutch, Pale catechu, Gambir, Kancu. FURTHER INF Gambier can be cultivated in areas with high rainfall throughout the year and does not occur in dry regions. It is usually found at elevations between sea level and 200 m, but can be cultivated up to about 1000 m. Yields of leaves are about 12 t/ha and yields of gambier may be from 0.2-3 t/ha.
Sources
SOURCES (Uncaria gambir (Hunter) Roxb.) Williams C 1979a pp 179 [TEXT, FER, USE] Roecklein J 1987 pp 52 [USE] Duke J 1975 pp 30 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Lemmens R 1991 pp 125-127 [USE, RAIN, DRA, TEXT, FER]