Mimosa ophthalmocentra, or jurema-embira ("red jurema"), is a tree in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Brazil.[1] It is shrub or small tree about 3 to 5 m tall.[2][3] Its blossoms come in long, narrow cylindrical spikes having yellowish white petals and a white stamen.[3] The blossoms are sometimes found to have a pink tinge.[4] The fruit is green, sometimes with red or purple, flat, about 8 cm long and about 1 cm wide.[4]
The trunk grows to about 20 cm in diameter.[2]
Its wood has a density of about 1.12 g/cm3[5] and it makes good firewood.[6]
Traditionally in northeast Brazil, for cases of cough and bronchitis, a water extract (decoction) of Mimosa ophthalmocentra is made into a drink.[7] A handful of bark in one liter of water is used by itself or in a syrup.[7] The solution is taken until the symptoms subside.[7][8]
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(help) Mimosa ophthalmocentra, or jurema-embira ("red jurema"), is a tree in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Brazil. It is shrub or small tree about 3 to 5 m tall. Its blossoms come in long, narrow cylindrical spikes having yellowish white petals and a white stamen. The blossoms are sometimes found to have a pink tinge. The fruit is green, sometimes with red or purple, flat, about 8 cm long and about 1 cm wide.
The trunk grows to about 20 cm in diameter.
Its wood has a density of about 1.12 g/cm3 and it makes good firewood.