Cacao Tree
Theobroma cacao
Theobroma cacao, commonly known as the cacao or cocoa tree, is a tropical evergreen species …
Purple cacao (Theobroma purpureum)
Cacao de monte
Cacao cimarrón
Wild cacao
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Theobroma purpureum - Wild Cacao Species
Thriving under the dense canopy of Central and South American rainforests, Theobroma purpureum produces striking purple flowers directly on its trunk. This wild cacao relative occupies the damp understory of wet tropical forests. It plays an important role in local forest ecosystems by providing food for native wildlife.
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 purpureum (Purple cacao)
Morphology
This species is a small to medium understory tree with a slender trunk. The large, simple leaves are alternate, obovate-oblong, and have entire margins. The foliage often shows a purplish tint when young.
The flowers are cauliflorous, emerging in small clusters from the bark of the trunk and older branches. They feature distinctive dark purple or deep violet petals. The woody, elongated seed pods contain seeds embedded in a whitish pulp.
Applications
The sweet-tart white pulp surrounding the seeds is edible and sometimes harvested from the wild by local communities. Although related to commercial cacao, its seeds are rarely used for chocolate production due to their lower fat content and smaller size.
Interesting facts
- The specific epithet purpureum describes the purple coloration of its flowers and young leaves.
- Cauliflory is a specialized trait that makes the flowers easily accessible to tiny pollinating midges crawling along the tree trunk.
- The seeds are dispersed by monkeys and other small mammals that feed on the sweet fruit pulp.
Geography of distribution
- Costa Rica
- Panama
- Colombia
- Peru
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
- Tropicos (Missouri Botanical Garden)
- World Flora Online (WFO)
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