Ethnobotanical and general use

The ripe fruit heads are edible and sometimes sold at the markets. The timber is preferred for construction because of its reputed resistance to fire. The inner bark of mature trees is very thick and composed of many layers of strongly interlaced fibers. It has long been used by the aborigines for making hammocks, blankets, mats, and clothing. Bark cloth is still made by the Sumu Indians of Honduras and Nicaragua. The bark is soaked in water for a few days after which the sticky gum or milk adhering to it is scraped off. The bark is then dried in the sun. As it becomes hard and shrinks, it has to be submerged in water for a short time before the pounding begins. This is performed on a smaller log with the aid of a wooden mallet made from the stems of 2 different species of palms. The bark extends gradually upon being pounded and becomes soft and flexible. After being washed and dried it is ready for use and has a brownish colour. A similar, almost white, cloth of superior quality is obtained by the same processes from the inner bark of a species of Ficus and likewise from the rubber tree ( Castilloa).

South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.