Pequia nut, Guianas macoubea
Macoubea guianensis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 35 m tall. It does not have buttresses. The leaves are opposite. The flowers are in groups at the ends of branches and are 6 cm wide. The flower stalk is 6 cm long. The fruit has 2 one-seeded parts but usually only one develops. The fruit are half round and 8 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. They can be 12 cm wide. They are dark brown to black with white spots. The pulp is white, slimy, edible and sweet. The seeds are cylinder shaped and 2.2 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are deeply furrowed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can grow in rainforest or savanna.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. The latex is used for chewing gum.

Edible parts

Fruit, nuts, latex - chewing gum

How it is grown

In Guyana plants flower in September and fruit in February.

Its other names

Local names

Ackuke, Comido de loro, Folha grande, Gogode guariba, Huevas de toro, Jarabe huaco, Jarabe huayo, Ka'iankan ni, Loro micuna, Mapa, Momum, Pequea, Piquia, Pukaron, Rokoroko, Serva, Sokosoko, Sokosoko-mapa, Tawatoum'moi, Uarma-gogo, Yapukait

Synonyms

Macoubea pauciflora (Spruce ex Mull.Arg.) Markgr.; Macoubea sinuosa (Miers) Markgr.; Merizadenia amplifolia Miers; Parahancornia tabernaemontana Woodson; Rhigospira paucifolia (Spruce ex Mull.Arg.) Miers; Rhigospira sinuosa Miers; Tabernaemontana aubletii Pulle; Tabernaemontana macrophylla Poir,; Tabernaemontana paucifolia Spruce ex Mull. Arg.;