Guama Ulmifolia

Lam.

West Indian elm (E); Bastard cedar (J); Cabeza de Negrito (P); Guacimo (C,P) . The green fruits of this honey tree are edible fresh or cooked, and are relished by cattle. They are crushed in water to make a beverage, and to add flavor to meats. The leaves and fruits are eaten by cattle and deer. The bark is used for cordage, and is regarded as sudorific. It is used to treat elephantiasis, cutaneous diseases, and chesxt afflictions. The sap is used to clarify syrup in sugar-making, and was used for food and shaving cream in Colombia. In Darien, the uncooked bark is soaked with malva to drink for afflictions of the kidney and liver (!). In the Pearl Islands, people believe that touching the tree will slow bleeding (!).