Bread and cheese
Tetragastris altissima

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 30 m high. It has unequal buttresses. The outer bark is flaky and the inner bark is orange. The leaves are alternate. There are usually 7-9 leaflets with one at the end. They are papery. The flower groups are 20 cm long. The flowers are small and white. The fruit is round and fleshy. It has 2-5 lobes. The fruit are 3.4 cm long by 4 cm wide and red.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The aril or layer around the seed is eaten raw.

It is a significant food. It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Almecega-vera, Almesca, Azucarito blanco, Breu, Breu-maxixe, Breu-mexca, Cafe con leche, Carana, Copal, Encens rouge, Haiawa-balli, Haiawabelli, Isigo, Isigo lagunero, Japunaki, Japunaki-hoja larga, Kena yo, Kina, Kina yo, Lagunero, Nafa, Nui, Pirika, Rab ti, Redisali, Roodesalie, Sali, Tacamahaco

Synonyms

Amyris altissima (Aubl.) Willd.; Bursera altissima (Aubl.) Baill.; Icica altissima Aubl.; Icica cuspidata Kunth; Protium altissimum (Aubl.) Marchand; Tetragastris phanerosepala Sandwith; Tingulonga altissima (Aubl.) Kuntze;