Chaparro
Curatella americana

Family: Dilleniaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 3-7 m high. The trunk is twisted. The bark is cracked and scaly. It is grey-brown. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 10-20 cm long. They have a sandpapery texture. The leaves have a wavy edge and can have rounded teeth. The flowers are white or pink. They occur in clusters. They have an unpleasant scent. The fruit occur in clusters and are 1-1.5 cm across. The fruit are hairy and contain two black seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in subarid regions. It is in the savannas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Americas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seed have been used to flavour chocolate. They are toasted. The flesh of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds - flavouring, fruit

How it is grown

Plants grow from seed. Fires stimulate the seeds to grow.

Its other names

Local names

Chumico de palo, Juspi, Lixeira, Mimili, Raspaguacal, Sabanakasjoe, Sandpaper curatella, Sandpaper tree, YaHa

Synonyms

Curatella glabra Spruce;