Mamao bravo
Jacaratia spinosa

Family: Caricaceae

What it is like

A small soft wooded tree. It grows 10-20 m high. It is prickly. The trunk can be 70-90 cm across. The leaves are compound and divided into leaflets like fingers on a hand. There are 8-12 leaflets. The fruit is 8-12 cm long and 4 cm across. There are several seeds inside.

There are 7 Jacaratia species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in fertile soils at the bottom of valleys. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, South America, Suriname

How it is used for food

The fruit are cut to release the latex then eaten raw. They are also roasted. The fruit is used for jam. The seeds are roasted and eaten. The branches are used to make sweets. The wood has a soft, fleshy white latex.

It is occasionally cultivated for its fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit, branches, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or stem cuttings. The ripe fruit are harvested directly from the tree then the seeds are removed and washed. They are dried in the shade. Seeds can only be stored for a short time. Fresh seed are planted. They germinate in 10-20 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 3-4 months.

Plants grow quickly. Trees can be 4-5 m high in 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Acasye, Awara-oe-doe, Barrigudo, Chamburo, Chambu-ru, Gargatea, Higo, Jacaratia, Jaracatia, Jacaratia-mamao, Mamaozinho, Mamoeiro-bravo, Mamoeiro-de-espinho, Mamon del monte, Papayito, Papayuela, Peri jico, Sacha papaya, Siquishea, Tambora, Uruna, Yacarati'a

Synonyms

Carica digitata Spreng. non Poepp. & Endl.; Carica dodecaphylla Vell.; Carica spinosa Aubl.; Jacaratia actinophylla Pohl ex Solms; Jacaratia costaricensis I. M. Kohnst.; Jacaratia dodecaphylla (Vell.) A. DC.; Papaya spinosa (Aubl.) DC.;