Guiana Cacao
Theobroma cacao ‘Guiana’
A rare wild variety of cocoa tree native to French Guiana, forming a distinct genetic …
Smooth-fruited Cacao Tree (Theobroma cacao var. leiocarpum)
Calabacillo cacao
Smooth-fruited cacao
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Theobroma cacao var. leiocarpum - Smooth-Fruited Cacao Tree
Featuring smooth-surfaced pods, the tree Theobroma cacao var. leiocarpum stands out among cacao varieties for its distinct botanical profile. This variety is notable for its adaptation to various tropical forest soils.
Its robust nature has made it valuable in global cocoa cultivation. Breeders often utilize this variety to introduce hardiness into commercial orchards.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ Superrosids
- ∟ rosids
- ∟ malvids
- ∟ order Malvales
- ∟ family Malvaceae
- ∟ subfamily Byttnerioideae
- ∟ genus Theobroma (Cacao trees)
- ∟ species Theobroma cacao (Cacao Tree)
- ∟ variety Theobroma cacao var. leiocarpum (Smooth-fruited Cacao Tree)
Morphology
The tree grows to a height of five to eight meters under the shade of taller forest species. Unlike other varieties that bear deeply furrowed or warty pods, this variety produces smooth, almost spherical fruits that resemble small calabashes.
The seeds are small, purple, and tightly packed within a sweet mucilaginous pulp. Small, pale flowers develop directly on the woody trunk, a botanical phenomenon known as cauliflory.
Applications
The beans from this tree are harvested and processed into standard cocoa mass, contributing to bulk chocolate production. Due to their high fat content, they are also used in extracting cocoa butter for cosmetics.
Additionally, the hardy rootstock of this variety serves as a base for grafting more delicate, high-yield cacao cultivars.
Interesting facts
Because its round, smooth fruit resembles a small gourd, Spanish colonizers named it calabacillo, meaning little pumpkin or calabash. This variety is believed to have originated in the upper Amazon basin before spreading throughout South America.
Geography of distribution
- Venezuela
- Brazil
- Colombia
Sources
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