Maya breadnut
Brosimum alicastrum

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A large evergreen tree. It grows to 25-30 m high. It has a dense wide crown of leaves. It has narrow buttresses. The bark is grey. The leaves are simple and dark green. They are 17 cm long by 6 cm wide. There can be teeth along the edge and often the edge is wavy. The flowers are in a round head. Most are male with a female flowers in the centre. The fruit is small, round and golden orange. The tree has small roundish yellow or brown seeds about 2 cm across. They occur singly or sometimes two in a thin paper-like shell. It has a smooth but granular surface.

There are 6 Brosimum species in Costa Rica.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to Central America. It is suited to tropical lowland areas. It is best in a humid climate with a seasonal dry period. It is drought resistant. It can grow on shallow limestone soils. It can tolerate occasional flooding. In Costa Rica it grows to 1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America (country/location of origin), Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, South America (country/location of origin), Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The chestnut like seeds are eaten but only after cooking by roasting or boiling. They are also ground and mixed with corn in tortillas. They are made into a drink with milk and sugar. The seeds are also used for a coffee like drink. The latex from the tree is used as a drink. The young shoots and leaves are edible. The fruit are also ground and then made into flat bread. They are also boiled and eaten with fish.

A South American tree established in the Lae Botanical Gardens in Papua New Guinea. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, fruit, sap

How it is grown

It is grown from seeds or greenwood cuttings.

A fast growing tree. It produces fruit is 5-6 years. There are 2 or 3 fruiting periods during the year.

Its other names

Local names

A-agi, Apoma, Apomo, Ash, Ax, Berba, Bere,Breadnut, Bread nut, Cacique, Campo, Capomo, Capono, Charo, Charo macho, Congona, Guaimaro, Hairi, Hichoso, Huje, Huji, Janita, Laredo, Lechoso, Manchinga, Maseco, Masica, Masicaran, Masico, Moho, Mojo, Mojote, Muiratinga, Nazareno, Nuez de pan, Ocoxiltli, Ojite, Ojoche, Ojuxte, Osh, Oxitle, Palo leche, Pisma, Ramon, Ramon tree, Samaritano, Sande, Snakewood, Talcoite, Tillo, Tsakaya, Ujushte, Ujuxte

Synonyms

Alicastrum brownei Kuntze; Brosimum bernadetteae Woodson; Brosimum columbianum S. F. Blake; Brosimum conzattii Standl; Brosimum gentlei Lundell; Brosimum latifolium Standl.; Brosimum terrabanum Pittier; Brosimum uleanum Mildbr.; Helicostylis bolivarensis Pittier;