Brasil resin tree
Protium heptaphyllum

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 6-12 m high. The trunk is 30-40 cm across. The leaves are divided. There are 5 leaflets. The fruit is 2-3 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. It is red. There is one seed.

There are about 90-147 Protium species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows to 500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The aril or layer around the seed is eaten raw. To avoid the resin in the fruit wall, it should be eaten only after the fruit has split open. The resin is used as a chewing gum.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril, resin

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aarana, Aceitico, Almecega, Almesca, Amecicla, Anime, Armesca, Asimine blanco, Brea, Breu branco, Carana, Catamajaca, Chipo-yek, Currucay, Damenu, Friaco, Guapuici, Guate de galina,Haiawa, Ihique-i, Isiga, Isigo, Itahi, Izi i, Kasama enuru, Kurokai, Marahkwa, Marahkuyo, Morocot eyeball, Pergamin, Porokai, Sabana-tingimoni, Seven leaflet resin tree, Sipyo, White pitch

Synonyms

Amyris ambrosiaca Willd.; Amyris brasiliensis Willd. ex Engl.; Icica heptaphylla Aubl.; Icica heptaphylla Aubl.; Icica surinamensis Miq.; Icica tacamahaca Kunth; Protium angustifolium Swart; Protium heptaphyllum var. floribundum Swart ; Protium heptaphyllum var. multiflorum (Engl.) Swart; Protium heptaphyllum var. surinamense (Miq.) Swart; Protium heptaphyllum var. unifoliolatum Swart; Protium hostmanii var. brasiliensis Swart; Protium multiflorum Engl.; Protium octandrum Swart; Tingulonga heptaphylla (Aubl.) Kuntze; Tingulonga multiflora (Engl.) Kuntze;