Guiana Chestnut, Water Chestnut
A tropical plant. It requires a warm sunny, well protected position. It is drought tolerant. It is sensitive to frost, but the tree can survive light frosts. It can grow in moist or boggy places. It grows on creek and river banks. It originally came from South America and Mexico but has been taken to many tropical countries. It can grow in subtropical places. It suits humid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.
Also known as:
Apompo, Axilochochitl, Castanon, Catanho de agua, Ceibo de agua, Coco de agua, Gua li, Guyana chestnut, Jelinjoche, Kanihiri, Malabar-chestnut, Mamorana, Minguba, Momow, Money tree, Monguba, Pachira, Provision Tree, Saba nut, Sabanut, Sacha pandisho, Shaving Brush Tree, Watrakakaw
Synonyms
- Bombax aquaticum (Aubl.) Schum.
- Bombax macrocarpum (Schltdl. & Cham.) K. Schum.
- Bombax rigidifolium Ducke
- Carolinea macrocarpa Cham. & Schltdl.
- Carolinea princeps L.f.
- Pachira grandiflora Tuss.
- Pachira longiflora Hook.
- Pachira macrocarpa (Cham. & Schltdl.) Walp.
- Pachira pustulifera Pittier
- Pachira villosula Pittier
- and others Bombacopsis aquatica
- Bombax glabrum (Pasq.) A Robyns
Edible Portion
- Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
Where does Guiana Chestnut grow?
Found in: Africa, Amazon, Andes, Angola, Asia, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, French Polynesia, FSM, Gabon, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Suriname, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Yap
Notes: There are 20 Pachira species. They are from tropical America. Also put in the family Bombacaceae. Presumably in a hot house in Slovenia.
Status: It is a cultivated food plant.
Growing Guiana Chestnut, Water Chestnut
Cultivation: It is grown from seed. Seed will only remain viable for a short period so should be sown fresh. Cuttings can also be used to grow trees. Probably aerial layering can be used.
Edible Uses: The seeds are cooked (boiled, roasted or fried) and eaten. They can also be eaten raw. The leaves and flowers are eaten as a vegetable. Caution: The seeds are claimed to contain poisonous cyclopropenic fatty acids.
Production: Trees are slow growing. Flowering can occur throughout the year but seed set is mostly in the late dry season. Seeds can be stored for several months.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeds | 559 | 11.9 | - | - | - | - | 3.9 |
| Fruit | 94 | 2.2 | - | - | - | - | 76 |
Guiana Chestnut, Water Chestnut Photos
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