Glossy herrania
Herrania nitida

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4 m tall. It has flowers and fruit on the trunk. The fruit are elongated pods with ridges. They are 11 cm long by 5 cm wide. They hang down. They are green when ripe and have a pointed tip. There are about 24 seeds in a sweet white pulp.

Also in the family Byttneriaceae and Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the highest parts of the floodplain in the Amazon. It grows in deep shade.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia (country/location of origin), Ecuador (country/location of origin), Peru (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The flowers are pollinated by phorid flies.

Its other names

Local names

Bogikawe, Boginka, Bowinka, Cacahuillo, Cacao silvestre, Coquio'cho, Sacha cacao, Senori, Siku sampu

Synonyms

Abroma nitida Poepp.; Brotobroma aspera (H. Karst. & Triana) H. Karst.; Theobroma nitidum var. aspera (H. Karst. & Triana) R. E. Schult.; Theobroma nitidum (Poepp.) K. Schum.; and others