Vasconcellea stipulata
(V. M. Badillo) V. Badillo
Chamburro
(c) Paúl Gonzáles, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paúl Gonzáles
(c) Paúl Gonzáles, some rights reserved (CC BY)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
It is the least commercially exploited species among those of economic importance in Ecuador. Its use is limited to domestic and small-scale cultivation, and its food uses are mainly confections and preserves.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It is native to mid altitude zones in Ecuador. It grows between 1,600-2,500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Andes, Central America, Ecuador, Peru, South America,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 8 m tall. It can have spiny stems. The flowers are deep yellow. The fruit are 10 cm long. They have no ridges and a fairly smooth skin.
How to Grow
A tree of moderate elevations in the tropics, where it can be found from 1,600 - 2,500 metres. It could also, potentially, be grown in warm temperate and subtropical areas. A vigorous tree growing up to 2 - 3 metres tall in its first year and usually producing fruit in its second year of growth from seed. Plants can be productive for 20 years or more.
Propagation: Seed - sow in individual containers or in a nursery seedbed in light shade. Germination can be slow and difficult, taking about 30 days. Seedlings can be planted out when 4 - 6 months old.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Vasconcellea stipulata, known also as toronche or jigacho, is a fruit-bearing species in the Vasconcellea genus, Caricaceae family. It is native to Ecuador and Peru. Babaco is a natural hybrid of V. stipulata and V. pubescens, although it has been suggested that other species may be involved.
Production
Plants have cropped reliably for 20 years. Fruit weigh about 40-150 g.
Notes
There are at least 22-40 species of Carica.
Names & Synonyms
Jigacho de monte, Sigaton, Siglalon, Toronche
References (10)
- Castillo, R. O., 1995, Plant Genetic Resources in the Andes: Impact, Conservation, and Management. Crop Science 35:355-360 (As Carica)
- Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 181
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 73
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 902
- Kiple, K.F. & Ornelas, K.C., (eds), 2000, The Cambridge World History of Food. CUP p 1725
- Lyle, S., 2006, Discovering fruit and nuts. Land Links. p 104
- Revista Fac. Agron. (Maracay) 4(1):57, figs. 1-3. 1966
- Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 276
- Van den Eynden, V., et al, 2003, Wild Foods from South Ecuador. Economic Botany 57(4): 576-603
- van Wyk, B., 2005, Food Plants of the World. An illustrated guide. Timber press. p 118
