Milk tree, Couma
Couma utilis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 5-17 m tall. The trunk is 5-20 cm across and has latex. The leaves are simple and opposite or alternate. The leaves are oblong and 5-10 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The fruit are small and round. They are 2-4 cm across. They look a little like a guava. The pulp is sweet and edible. They contain several seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the lowland Amazon in Brazil. It is often in dry, non flooded zones. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Peru, South America, Venezuela (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten fresh. The latex from the tree is used in medicine and to flavour drinks. It is a substitute for chicle.

The fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit, exudate, sap

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and put into a plastic bag to rot the flesh and make the seeds easier to remove. The ripe seeds are sown and germinate in 20-40 days.

Plants develop at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Couba, Cuma, Cumai, Gaimaro-macho, Juansoco, Pendarito, Saruvina, Sorva-miuda, Sorva-pequena, Sorva, Sorvilha, Sorvinha, Sowa

Synonyms

Collophora utilis Mart.; Couma multinervis Monach.; Couma huianensis Aubl.; Couma rigila Muell.; Couma dulcis Spruce;