Author:
Jan Scholten
Book:
Qjurious
Type:
Info
Chapter:
3-644.25.05
Platonia insignis
Names: Aristoclesia esculenta; Moronobea esculenta; Platonia esculenta.
Names: Bacuri; Bacurí, Bacury, Bakuri, Pacuri, Pakuri, Pakouri, Packoeri, Pakoeri, Maniballi, Naranjillo, Bacurizeiro.
Region: South America.
Habitat: humid forests.
Content: phosphorus, iron, vitamin C; trioxygenated xanthones; latex is composed of resinotol.
Use: fruit; yellowish timber.
Botany
Deciduous tree; 25–40 m high; pyramidal crown.
Stem: copious yellow latex in the bark.
Leaves: opposite, simple, oblong to elliptic, long, glossy dark green, with wavy margins and a leathery texture.
Flowers: long, pink, with five petals and numerous stamens.
Fruit: round to oval, long, with a thick, yellow skin, similar to a papaya; rind exudes a yellow latex when pressed.
Seeds: wrapped with sticky white pulp, like a pomegranate, fragant, both sweet and sour; brown, fairly oily.