White ramoon, Racemose breadnut
Trophis racemosa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 21 m tall. The bark is smooth and grey but becomes scaly with age. It has milky sap. The leaves are alternate and narrow. The male flowers are in catkin like clusters. The female flowers are in short catkins and the male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The fruit are small and edible.

There are 9 Trophis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dry, wet and lower mountain forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Belize, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten cooked. The fruit pulp is eaten raw. The leaves are eaten and used for tea.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, nuts, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Balsamo, Barbarito, Campanilla, Chatchi, Chinchi, Confitura, Cuchara-caspi, Gallote, Guaimaro, Gusano, Hatupa mikuna yura, Hatupa muyu yura, Hoja tinta, Huachal, Jucite, Leche, Lechero colorado, Lechosa, Morillo, Papelillo, Pitiu, Ramon, Ramoncillo

Synonyms

Bucephalon racemosum L.; Clarisia urophylla (Donn.Sm.) Lanj.; Pseudolmedia karstenii Pittier; Sahagunia urophylla Donn.Sm.; Trophis americana L.; Trophis americana va., meridionalis Bureau; Trophis americana var. ramon Bureau; Trophis racemosa ssp. meridionalis (Bureau) W. C. Burger; Trophis racemosa ssp. ramon (Schltdl. & Cham.) W. C. Burger; Trophis ramon Schltdl. & Cham.;