Monkey pot, Jicaro, Ample monkey pot tree
Lecythis ampla

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 40 m high. The trunk is straight. The bark is brown and has cracks along it. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 8 cm long. The leaves have a wavy edge and fine teeth along the edge. The flowers are 3 cm across. They have 6 blue to pink petals. The fruit is round and has a thick woody wall. It is 20 cm across. It has a lip that opens on a 9 cm wide hole. There are up to 50 seeds inside. The seeds are 4-5 cm long and have a groove. They are attached to the inside of the pot by fleshy stalks

It is an endangered species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Costa Rica it grows between 5 and 500 m altitude. It grows in wet forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, South America

How it is used for food

The nuts are eaten. Caution: The seeds can be poisonous if grown on soils high in selenium.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Aray, Cachimbo, Caoba, Coco, Coco de mono, Coco salero, Hoya de mico, Hoya de mono, Jicaro, Olla de mono, Palo ryado. Pan suba, Panzua, Papayo

Synonyms

Lecythis ampullaria Miers; Lecythis armilensis Pittier; Lecythis bogotensis Miers; Lecythis boyacensis R. Knuth; Lecythis costaricensis Pittier; Lecythis curranii Pittier;