Luehea candida
(Moc. & Sesse ex DC.) Mart.
Shining white whip tree
(c) Azul B.M, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Azul B.M
(c) Aurelio Molina Hernández., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Aurelio Molina Hernández.
(c) Barry Sullender, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Barry Sullender
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit - flavouring
The fruit are roasted and eaten as a meal, and also used as a flavouring.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.
Argentina, Asia, Bangladesh, Belize, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Paraguay, South America, Venezuela,
How to Identify
A shrub or small tree. It can grow 12 m tall. The leaves are simple and broad. They are 10-20 cm long.
How to Grow
Plants often flower when only 2 metres tall.
Other Uses
The large woody capsules are fastened to the end of a stick and used for beating chocolate into a froth. The bark contains a tough fibre and is often used as temporary cordage.
Notes
These have also been in the Tiliaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Acoira-cavalo, Algodoncillo, Bonete, Cabo de hacha, Caulote blanco, Guacima cimmarron, Guacimo, Guacimo de molenillo, Guasimo de molenillo, Tapascuao, Tepecaulote, Ya'ra ipun yo'
References (4)
- 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 361
- Kew Plants of the World On line
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
