Acioa edulis Prance

  • Authority

    Prance, Ghillean T. 1989. Chrysobalanaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 9S: 1-267. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Chrysobalanaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Acioa edulis Prance

  • Synonyms

    Couepia edulis (Prance) Prance

  • Description

    Description - Tree 25 m tall, the trunk slightly buttressed to 0.5 m, the young branches glabrous. Leaf lamina oblong, thickly coriaceous, 7-17 × 4.5-12 cm, rounded at base, acuminate at apex, the acumen 2-6 mm long, glabrous on both surfaces, with two glands near to base of lower surface; midrib prominulous above, prominent beneath; primary veins 9-11 pairs, prominent on both surfaces; secondary venation prominent on both surfaces. Stipules linear, membranous, 5-8 mm long, glabrous, caducous. Inflorescences much-branched, slightly corymbose panicles, 5-10 cm long, the rachis and branches glabrous. Receptacle conical and slightly curved near base, 6-7 mm long, glabrous on exterior, the interior lined by an extremely thick disc with only a small hollow, the interior with pilose hairs below insertion of style, glabrous on other side. Calyx lobes five, rounded, unequal, 3-5 mm long, glabrous with two glands on exterior, the margins ciliate, appressed-puberulous on interior. Petals five, white, caducous, glabrous, the margins ciliate. Stamens 17-20, inserted in two rows around half of the thick staminal ring, the other half of the ring with staminodes, with a circle of deflexed hairs inserted on interior at base of staminal ring, the filaments glabrous, the anthers dorsifixed. Ovary inserted at mouth of receptacle on the same side as stamens, glabrous on exterior, glabrous within, unilocular; ovules two. Style inserted at base of ovary towards interior, the swollen base pilose, the filamentous portion glabrous, equalling stamens in length. Fruit ellipsoid, 6-7.5 cm long, 4-5 cm broad, exocarp glabrous, lenticellate; mesocarp 12-14 mm thick; endocarp thin and bony, fragile, glabrous within, the cotyledons completely filling the central cavity. Germination epigeal, first leaves opposite. Habitat. Forest on terra firme.

  • Discussion

    Uses. The fleshy cotyledons are edible and the fruits are gathered in large numbers by Brazilians in the Rio Ituxi region. The kernel is eaten raw or is crushed and added to their tapioca cakes (beiju). Its oil is also extracted and used for cooking and soap making.

    The fact that I have already placed this most distinctive new species in two genera indicates its problematic nature. It is quite unlike any others. It resembles Acioa vegetatively and in many floral features, but does not have what was previously considered to be the central, uniting character of the genus: the stamens fused into a ligule. A recent review of the genera (Prance & White, 1988) showed that it is best placed in Acioa rather than Couepia even though it does not have the fused stamens. This species forms a link with Couepia, a genus in which fused stamens never occur.

  • Common Names

    Castanha de Cotia

  • Distribution

    Mainly in the basin of the Rio Purus and the central Solimões.

    Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America|