Palo de Papa, Smooth calatola
Calatola laevigata
Family: Icacinaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 15 m high. The trunk is 25 cm across. The leaves are oblong and 16 cm long. Plants are separately male and female. Male spikes are 6 cm long. The fruit are narrowly oval and 5 cm long. They are covered with low ridges.
There are about 6 Calatola species.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows between 800 and 2,300 m above sea level in Mexico.
Countries/locations it is found in
Belize, Central America, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, North America
How it is used for food
The kernels of the seeds are roasted and eaten or ground and used in tortillas.
Edible parts
Kernels, nuts
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Aguacate de mono, Azulillo, Bone, Calate, Calatola, Calatolazno, Duraznillo, Onmanchinte, Palo de tinta, Ruez de calatola