Longleaf carpotroche
Carpotroche longifolia

Family: Achariaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 12 m tall. The flowers are in small clusters. They grow on the old wood. The fruit is a narrowly oval, woody capsule. It is 5 cm long by 3 cm wide and have 10-12 wings. These are a light green with small teeth. There are wings between these also with teeth. There are about 50 seeds with one rounded and 2 flat sides. They are 1 cm long by 0.6 cm wide and with red or orange arils or coverings over the seeds.

There are about 30 Carpotroche species. They are also put in the family Kiggelariaceae and Euphorbiacece. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows along creeks and rivers, expecially on slopes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. It is the small fleshy layer (aril) around the seeds that is eaten. Caution: The fruit have a cyanide smell and may need cooking.

Edible parts

Aril, fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Fruit are harvested off the tree trunk.

Its other names

Local names

Champa huayo, Huila

Synonyms

Carpotroche linguifolia (R. E. Schult.) Cuatrec; Mayna linquifolia R. E. Schult.; Mayna longifolia Poeppig; and others