Theobroma simiarum
Donn. Sm.
Monkey chocolate tree
(c) Eduardo Chacón Madrigal, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Eduardo Chacón Madrigal, some rights reserved (CC BY)
(c) Eduardo Chacón Madrigal, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds, Seeds - oil
Several species of Theobroma produce edible seeds, notably cacao, cupuaçu, and mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of cocoa and chocolate. Theobroma species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita, including E. chalybeatus, E. damor, E. hosei and E. sericeus. The larvae of another moth, Hypercompe muzina, feed exclusively on Theobroma cacao. An active ingredient of cacao, theobromine, is named for the genus.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It grows as an under-storey plants in the rainforest. It grows up to 600 m above sea level. It suits the hot, moist, lowland tropics. It suits areas with an annual average temperature between 20°-30° C and an average rainfall between 2,000-8,000 mm evenly distributed. It is best in rich soils and in light shade.
Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, South America*,
How to Identify
An evergreen tree. The crown is spreading. It grows 20 m tall. The trunk is 60 cm across.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from fresh seeds.
Propagation: Seed - it has a very short viability, requiring high humidity and optimum temperatures to remain viable. There is no dormancy, the seed often germinating whilst still inside the pod.
Medicinal Uses
Although no specific reports of medicinal use have been seen for this plant, the seed is a source of cacao powder and butter. These products have the following medicinal uses:- Cacao powder and butter, which are obtained from the seed, are nutritive. The butter is also applied externally as an emollient. Cacao powder is taken internally in the treatment of angina and high blood pressure. Cacao butter is an excellent emollient, being applied to the skin to soothe and soften it. It is used traditionally to treat chapped skin and burns, and is also rubbed into bruises. Research has shown that it can help to counter the bacteria responsible for boils and septicaemia.
Other Uses
An oil, known as cacao butter, which is solid at room temperature, is obtained from the seed. In addition to being used locally as a food and medicine, cacao butter is important in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.
Other Information
It is cultivated.
Notes
Also put in the family Byttneriaceae and the Sterculiaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Teta negra, Uir-ub, Werom, Win chia
References (10)
- Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
- Garcia-Serrano, C. R., & Del Monte, J. P., 2004, The Use of Tropical Forest (Agroecosystems and wild Plant harvesting) as a Source of Food in the Bribri and Cabecar Cultures in the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Economic Botany 58(1) pp 58-71
- Grandtner, M. M., 2008, World Dictionary of Trees. Wood and Forest Science Department. Laval University, Quebec, Qc Canada. (Internet database http://www.wdt.qc.ca)
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 663
- Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 41
- Pittier, Prim. fl. costaric. 2:52. 1898
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
- Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 600
- USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
