Candle wood cupania, Wild ackee
Cupania americana

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It can be 20 m high. The leaves are compound with 2-4 pairs of leaflets. The flower panicles are 10-30 cm long. The fruit is a shallowly 3 lobed capsule. It is 2 cm long by 2 cm wide. It has yellow hairs. The seed is oval and 1 cm long. It is black and shiny. It has an aril of fleshy layer around it.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests near rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Haiti, Mexico, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The chestnut like seeds are eaten. They are also used to make a fermented liquor.

Edible parts

Nuts, aril

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gawetri, Guacharaco, Guamo matias, Guanara, Guara, Guirana, Maraquil

Synonyms

Cupania tomentosa Sw.; Trigonis tomentosa Jacq.;