Guiana cashew, Wild cashew
Anacardium excelsum

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 40 m tall. The trunk is 2 m across. The leaves are simple and alternate and in clusters. The leaves are 30 cm long. They are rounded and wider towards the tip. The flowers are in clusters. They are greenish-white but turn pink. The fruit (nuts) are green and kidney shaped. They are 3-4 cm long. The fruit stem is spiral shaped and fleshy.

There are 8-11 Anacardium species. They grow in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to 900 m altitude. It is often along streams in dry and open areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Asia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seed is roasted and eaten. Caution: The flesh of the fruit is caustic. The fruit can be eaten and used for drinks.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts, fruit, fruit stalk

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. Seeds usually do not germinate in shade.

In Central America fruit mature March to May.

Its other names

Local names

Ahuehue, Caracoli, Espave, Espavel, Maranon silvestre, Pinuwala, Rabito

Synonyms

Anacardium rhinocarpus DC.[Illegitimate]; Rhinocarpus excelsa Bertero & Balbis;