Panama tetragastris
Tetragastris panamensis

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 3-35 m tall. The crown is wide and spreading. The small branches have yellow hairs. The leaves are 15-37 cm long. They have 7-9 leaflets and these are 5-21 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. The flowers are in loosely branched clusters in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white or yellow. The fruit are fleshy but become 2-5 lobed capsules. They are 1.5-2.5 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The aril of layer around the seed is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Anime, Carano, Cuatro estomagos, Chutra, Kerosin, Nempokawe, Witagemo, Witagewe

Synonyms

Hedwigia balsamifera Engl. non Sw,; Hedwigia panamensis Engl.; Protium crassifolium Engl.; Tetragastris panamensis var. grandifolia Swart; Tetragastris paraensis Cuatrec; Tetragastris stevensonii Standl.;