Guianas couma
Couma guianensis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 25 m tall. It is 7 m tall in dry places. The flowers are in flat topped groups. These occur singly or in pairs. The fruit is a round berry. They are 3-4 cm across. The fruit are green and turn red when ripe. The pulp is edible. There are 4-5 seeds. They are oval and 1 cm long.

Where it is found

A tropical plant It grows in the rainforest and savanna. They grow up to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia (country/location of origin), Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Suriname, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is eaten raw. The latex is added to tea or coffee. It is also used for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Fruit, latex

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed. Seed can be dried and stored.

In Guyana plants flower before the leaves in August to September and produce fruit in September to October.

Its other names

Local names

Akoema, Dukaballi, Gan mapa, Guaimaromacho, Karimein, Mapa, Milky oudou, Nicuye, Oluca, Pera, Poue, Sorva, Tapooka, Ukum, Vacahosca, Yuwa

Synonyms

Cerbera triphylla Rudge;