Miniature cashew
Anacardium microcarpum

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 4-8 m high. It loses many leaves during the year. The leaves are leathery and 20-30 cm long. The flowers have male and female parts in the same stalk. The branched flower stalks are 20-40 cm long. The fruit are fleshy, fattened flower stalks. The nut is at the end.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in scrubland and non flooded areas in the lower Amazon in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fleshy fruit stalks are eaten fresh. The fruit are used for juice. The nut is roasted and eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit stalk, nuts

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cajui, Caju-de-campo, Caju-miniatura

Synonyms

It may be a variety of Anacardium occidentale;