Kunakip
Tabernaemontana sananho

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can grow 20 m tall. The fruit are 4-5 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. They are yellow. They are produced in clusters. The skin is thick and has 3 angled ridges. There are about 20 dark reddish brown seeds. The pulp is very sweet. The pulp is underneath the layer of pointed seeds. The fruit stalk has a white latex.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in the forest. It grows in floodplains and uplands. It grows up to 2,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is eaten raw.

The fruit pulp is only occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit pulp, bark

How it is grown

The tree starts producing fruit when about 1.5 m tall. Fruit are ripe towards the end of the rainy season.

Its other names

Local names

Arbol de la vaca, Bai su'u, Bolsa de mono, Bolsa de perro, Caimo de montana, Chiri sanango, Kunapik, Kunapip, Lobo sanango, Sanango de bajo, Sanango de lobo, Sanango macho, Tahuampa sanango, Tsikta, Ucho sanango

Synonyms

Bonafousia sananho (Ruiz & Pav.) Markgr.; Merizadenia sananho (Ruiz & Pav.) Markgr.; Tabernaemontana poeppigii Mull.Arg.; Taberna poeppigii (Mull.Arg.) Miers;