Large leaf abuta
Abuta grandifolia

Family: Menispermaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

The Menispermaceae are mainly tropical rainforest plants. There are 32 Abuta in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforest and especially in secondary forest. It is a lowland plant and grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The pulp of the ripe fruit is eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Trees can produce fruit when 1 m high.

Its other names

Local names

Achuni sanango, Bagabab, Bagawe, Bofroe-siri, Cafecillo, Caferano, Cajon yura, Calentrua caspi, Catuaba, Chicicaspi, Cipo abuta, Fruta de ciento pie, Grao-de-galo, Kapoewa-siri, Kau panka, Machap, Manguinha, Matiri kaspi, Motelo caspi, Odo odo, Palo de motelo, Parapara, Payanchi, Pichico huayo, Pitombinha, Piton, Siku tara, Suruki, Tara tara muyu yura, Xexua, Yawati kaspi, Yawati muyu, Yawati panka

Synonyms

Abuta concolor Benth.; Abuta concolor Poepp. & Endl.; Abuta guyanensis Eichler; Anelasma concolor Miers; Anelasma gardnerianum Miers; Anelasma guianense Miers; Anelasma laurifolium Sagot; Anelasma martianum Miers; Anelasma pallidum Miers; Anelasma spruceanum Miers Anelasma urophyllum Miers; Chaenostomum gardneri Miers; Cocculus grandifolius Mart.; Cocculus grandifolius Perrot & Vogt; Cocculus laevigatus Mart.; Cocculus urophyllus Mart.; Trichoa concolor Endl.; Trichoa guyanensis Klotzsch ex Eichler;