Chinchin banana
Montrichardia arborescens
Family: Araceae
What it is like
It is a tree like aroid. It grows in wet places. The stems are pliable and covered with spines. It can grow 7 m tall. The stem is 5 cm across at the base. It is soft and spongy. The leaves are arrow head shaped. They are 40 cm long. The leaf stalk is about 32 cm long and sheaths the stem. The flowering stalk is like a lily and is a spike 11 cm long. It has a hood like bract around it. This can be 18 cm long. The flowers have a strong smell. They are white. The fruits have about 80 yellow fruit is a cluster. Each fruit is about 4 cm long. The fruit are edible.
There are 2 Montrichardia species.
Where it is found
They are tropical plants. They grow in marshes. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to about 100 m altitude. It can grow amongst mangroves and in estuaries. The temperature needs to be above 25°C.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Lesser Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The roasted fruit and seeds are eaten. The fruit need to be fully ripe. The seeds are cooked or roasted. The starchy roots are also eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit, roots, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed sown into waterlogged soil. They can also be grown from sections of the rhizome.
There are about 80 seeds in each fruit stalk.
Its other names
Local names
Aninha espinho, Arracacho, Boroboro, Chupaya, Fruta del diablo, Imuru, Malanga-gratter, Mokomoko, Montrikardia, Moucou-moucou, Mukumuku, Rabano, Yurika