Food candle tree
Parmentiera aculeata

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. It grows 5-10 m high. It has a spreading crown. The trunk can be 8 cm across. The leaf stalks have narrow wings. The leaves are in rings on short spiny twigs. The leaves have 1-4 leaflets. They are 5 cm long. The flowers and fruit grow from the trunk or singly at the ends of branches. The flowers are large and irregular and bell shaped. They are up to 6 cm long. They usually occur . The tube shaped flowers are yellowish green with purple stripes. The fruit are pointed and yellowish green. The fruit are candle shaped and 12 cm long by 7 cm wide. The fruit is waxy. They are dull yellow and short and plump with ridges like okra. It has many angles and grooves.

There are 9 Parmentiera species. They are trees from tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the humid lowlands. It is native to Central America. It needs a frost free site. It needs reasonable drainage. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 750 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Rockhampton Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Hispaniola, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico (country/location of origin), North America, Pacific, Panama, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St Lucia, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw, cooked by boiling or roasted, and preserved or pickled. They are chewed like sugarcane.

They are a staple food in some Central American countries. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice

How it is grown

Plants grow easily from seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.

Trees fruit in about 5 years. It flowers all year round.

Its other names

Local names

Bananinha, Chayote, Chote, Cow okra, Cuachilote, Cuajilote, Cucumber tree, Guachilote, Panama candle tree, Pepino de arbol, Yellowtaper candletree

Synonyms

Crescentia aculeata Kunth; Crescentia edulis Desv.; Parmentiera edulis DC.; Parmentiera foliolosa Miers; Parmentiera lanceolata Miers;