Theobroma
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Theobroma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Theobroma cacao fruit | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Subfamily: | Byttnerioideae |
| Tribe: | Theobromateae |
| Genus: | Theobroma L.[1] |
| Type species | |
| Theobroma cacao | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Synonyms | |
Theobroma is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is sometimes classified as a member of Sterculiaceae. It contains roughly 20 species of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.
Theobroma cacao, the best known species of the genus, is used for making chocolate. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) and Mocambo (Theobroma bicolor) are also of some economic importance.
Taxonomy[edit]
The generic name is derived from the Greek words θεός theos meaning "god"[2] and βρῶμα broma meaning "food"[3] translating to "food of the gods".
Selected species[edit]
- Theobroma angustifolium DC.
- Theobroma bicolor Humb. & Bonpl. – mocambo
- Theobroma cacao L. – cacao
- Theobroma canumanense Pires & Froes ex Cuatrec.
- Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K.Schum. – cupuaçu
- Theobroma mammosum Cuatrec. & Léon
- Theobroma microcarpum Mart.
- Theobroma obovatum Klotzsch ex Bernoulli
- Theobroma simiarum Donn.Sm.
- Theobroma speciosum Willd. ex Spreng. – cacaui
- Theobroma stipulatum Cuatrec.
- Theobroma subincanum Mart.
- Theobroma sylvestre Mart.[4]
Formerly placed here[edit]
- Abroma augustum (L.) L.f. (as T. augustum L.)
- Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (as T. guazuma L.)
- Herrania albiflora Goudot (as T. albiflorum (Goudot) De Wild.)
- Herrania mariae (Mart.) Decne. ex Goudot (as T. mariae (Mart.) K. Schum.)
- Herrania purpurea (Pittier) R. E. Schult. (as T. purpureum Pittier)[4]
Uses[edit]
Several species of Theobroma produce edible seeds, notably cacao, cupuaçu, and mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of cocoa and chocolate.
Theobroma species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita, including E. chalybeatus, E. damor, E. hosei and E. sericeus. The larvae of another moth, Hypercompe muzina, feed exclusively on Theobroma cacao.
An active ingredient of cacao, theobromine, is named for the genus.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Genus: Theobroma L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 5 Jun 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
- ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). "θεός". A Greek-English Lexicon. Perseus Digital Library.
- ^ Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert (1940). "ἀ". A Greek-English Lexicon. Perseus Digital Library.
- ^ a b "GRIN Species Records of Theobroma". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
External links[edit]
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