Jacaratia spinosa (known as wild mango, or mamoeiro-bravo and mamãozinho in Brazil,[1] and yacaratiá tree in Argentina[2]) is a species of tree, in the genus Jacaratia of the family Caricaceae (the papaya family). It is found in the tropical dry forests of central and southern Mexico, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Its stem is used as a main ingredient in the manufacturing of candy. Its fruit is also appreciated by many animals including monkeys and birds.[1]
| Jacaratia spinosa | |
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bark leaf fruit seeds | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Caricaceae |
| Genus: | Jacaratia |
| Species: | J. spinosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl.) A. DC.
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Description
editIt is a deciduous tree with an open and narrow crown and can grow up to 15 meters (50 feet) tall. It is armed with conical spines that are short and stout.
Ecology
editThe fruit of the yacaratiá tree is eaten by a variety of animals including lowland tapirs,[3] brown howler monkeys,[4] white-lipped peccaries, collared peccaries, white-eared opossums, Argentine black and white tegus, southern muriqui, humans, and birds.[1]
As food
editThe fruit of this tree are edible raw or cooked. Although if eaten raw, the skin must be scored for some time in order to release a copious latex.
Edible wood
editThe wood of the yacaratiá tree is served as a delicacy in Argentinian restaurants. The wood is soaked in honey or syrup and is also available in chocolate bonbons or in flavored jams with sawdust. The wood is soft and fibrous and the taste has been compared to chestnuts.[2]
Although most wood is indigestible to humans due to the high lignin content, the yacaratiá tree is only around 10% cellulose while the rest is mostly water with very little lignin content. Unlike most plants, cells of this tree contain large spaces within their walls which store water.
Agroforestry
editThe yacaratiá tree makes a good pioneer species due to its fast growth.
References
edit- ^ a b c "A caracterização bioquímica da composição do cerne de Jaracatiá (Jaracatia spinosa)". Acta Iguaza (in Portuguese). 1. 2012. S2CID 90414088.
- ^ a b "Edible Wood – A Modern Delicacy with a Rustic Flair". 14 May 2014.
- ^ Hibert; Sabatier; Andrivot (3 October 2011). "Botany, Genetics and Ethnobotany: A Crossed Investigation on the Elusive Tapir's Diet in French Guiana". PLOS ONE. 6 (10): e25850. Bibcode:2011PLoSO...625850H. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025850. PMC 3185057. PMID 21991372.
- ^ Bello, Carolina; Galetti, Mauro; Montan, Denise; Pizo, Marco A.; Mariguela, Tatiane C.; Culot, Laurence; Bufalo, Felipe; Labecca, Fabio; Pedrosa, Felipe; Constantini, Rafaela; Emer, Carine; Silva, Wesley R.; Da Silva, Fernanda R.; Ovaskainen, Otso; Jordano, Pedro (2017). "Atlantic frugivory: a plant–frugivore interaction data set for the Atlantic Forest" (PDF). Ecology. 98 (6): 1729. doi:10.1002/ecy.1818. hdl:10261/158044. PMID 28317110.
Links
edit
- Jacaratia spinosa - Useful Tropical Plants
- Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl.) A. DC. - Encyclopedia of Life
- Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl.) A. DC. - Catalogue of Life
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