Maya breadnut
A tropical plant. It is native to Central America. It is suited to tropical lowland areas. It is best in a humid climate with a seasonal dry period. It is drought resistant. It can grow on shallow limestone soils. It can tolerate occasional flooding. In Costa Rica it grows to 1,000 m altitude.
Also known as:
A-agi, Apoma, Apomo, Ash, Ax, Berba, Breadnut, Bread nut, Cacique, Campo, Capomo, Capono, Charo, Charo macho, Congona, Guaimaro, Hairi, Hichoso, Huje, Huji, Janita, Laredo, Manchinga, Maseco, Masica, Masicaran, Masico, Moho, Mojo, Mojote, Muiratinga, Nuez de pan, Ojite, Ojoche, Ojuxte, Oxitle, Palo leche, Pisma, Ramon, Ramon tree, Samaritano, Sande, Snakewood, Talcoite, Tillo, Ujushte, Ujuxte
Synonyms
- Alicastrum brownei Kuntze
- Brosimum bernadetteae Woodson
- Brosimum columbianum S. F. Blake
- Brosimum conzattii Standl
- Brosimum gentlei Lundell
- Brosimum latifolium Standl.
- Brosimum terrabanum Pittier
- Brosimum uleanum Mildbr.
- Helicostylis bolivarensis Pittier
Edible Portion
- Seeds, Leaves, Fruit, Sap
Where does Maya breadnut grow?
Found in: Amazon, Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Venezuela, West Indies
Notes: There are 6 Brosimum species in Costa Rica.
Status: A South American tree established in the Lae Botanical Gardens in Papua New Guinea. It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.
Growing Maya breadnut
Cultivation: It is grown from seeds or greenwood cuttings.
Edible Uses: The chestnut like seeds are eaten but only after cooking by roasting or boiling. They are also ground and mixed with corn in tortillas. They are made into a drink with milk and sugar. The seeds are also used for a coffee like drink. The latex from the tree is used as a drink. The young shoots and leaves are edible. The fruit are also ground and then made into flat bread. They are also boiled and eaten with fish.
Production: A fast growing tree. It produces fruit is 5-6 years. There are 2 or 3 fruiting periods during the year.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seed | 217 | 6 | 2.09 | 25 | 27.4 | 1.13 | 45 |
| Fruit | - | 9.3 | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Leaves | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sap | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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