Acioa edulis, syn. Couepia edulis (Prance) Prance, is a fruit and timber tree in the family Chrysobalanaceae, which is native to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. The tree's Portuguese common name is Castanha-de-cutia. The tree grows naturally only within a small area of Brazil; however, they proliferate widely within this area. The tree is around 25 m (82 ft) tall, with entire leaves that are oval or round, measuring 8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in) diameter, with a petiole up to 2.5 cm (0.98 in) long. Its fruit ranges from 8–9 cm (3.1–3.5 in) long and 4–5 cm (1.6–2.0 in) diameter.[3] and contain a single nut. Later these nuts float on the waters and have been collected for centuries as the source of a valuable oil, but their source was unknown until 1978 when botanical explorer Ghillean Prance discovered the species of tree which produces them.[4]
| Acioa edulis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Chrysobalanaceae |
| Genus: | Acioa |
| Species: | A. edulis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acioa edulis | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Cultivation
editThe fruit is edible or can be pressed to extract oil used in cooking or soap making. The kernel is also edible.
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Fernandez, E.; León, M.L.V.; Verdi, M.; Martinelli, G.; Silva, R. (2021). "Acioa edulis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (in Portuguese). 2021 e.T189631298A189631302. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T189631298A189631302.pt. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ↑ "Acioa edulis Prance". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ↑ Spitzer, V.; Marx, F.; Maia, J. G. S.; Pfeilsticker, K. (March 1991). "Identification of conjugated fatty acids in the seed oil of Acioa edulis (Prance) syn. Couepia edulis (Chrysobalanaceae)". Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. 68 (3): 183–189. doi:10.1007/bf02657766. ISSN 0003-021X.
- ↑ Prance, Ghillean; Lovejoy, Thomas E. (1985). Key Environments - Amazonia. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press. pp. 128 & 130.
External links
edit- (in Portuguese) Acioa edulis wood photo
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