Caja-rendondo, Cajazeiro
Spondias macrocarpa
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 10-15 m high. The crown is open and rounded. The trunk is 30-50 cm across. The bark is thin and rough. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are grouped at the ends of the stems. The leaves are 15-30 cm long and have 17-23 leaflets that are opposite each other. They have short stalks and the edges are wavy. They are slightly hairy underneath. The leaflets are 5-9 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. The flowers occur in large groups at the ends of branches. The flowering groups are 8-14 cm long. The fruit is round and 3-4 cm across. There is one seed inside covered with ridged fibres. Probably now Spondias purpurea
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in Brazil on the Atlantic plateau.
Countries/locations it is found in
Brazil (country/location of origin), South America
How it is used for food
The fruit are very acid and are used for drinks. They are also eaten fresh.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and put into plastic bags to allow them to decompose so the seed can be removed. The fresh seed should be planted and germinate in 20-30 days.
Its other names
Local names
Caja-mirim, Caja-redondo, Cajazeiro