Talisia esculenta
| Talisia esculenta | |
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| Species: | T. esculenta
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| Talisia esculenta | |
Talisia esculenta is a medium-sized tree native to the Amazon Basin, and is found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay and Bolivia.
The tree and fruit are called pitomba in English, Spanish and Portuguese, cotopalo in Spanish, pitoulier comestible in French and olho de boi, pitomba-rana and pitomba de macaco in Portuguese. Pitomba is also used as the name for Eugenia luschnathiana.
Description
Talisia esculenta can grow to a height of 9-20 m, with a trunk up to 45 cm diameter. The leaves are arranged alternately, pinnately compound, with 5-11 leaflets, the leaflets 5-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad.
The flowers are produced in a panicle 10-15 cm long, the individual flowers small and white. The fruit is round to ellipsoid in shape, 1.5-4 cm in diameter. The skin is thin, tender, brown in appearance and the pulp golden-yellow, apricot-like in texture, soft, melting, juicy, aromatic and slightly acid, faintly resinous in flavor. The taste of pitomba fruit could best be described as combination of apricot and lemon.
Uses
The fruit is eaten fresh and used to make juice. The sap used as a fish poison. Roasted seeds are used to treat diarrhea.
References
- International Plant Genetic Resources Institute: Talisia esculenta[dead link]
- Talisia esculenta URL retrieved April 7, 2006
- Arvores e Arbustos do Brasil: Talisia esculenta (in Portuguese)
- Field Museum: herbarium specimen (photo)
