Grias neuberthii

J. F. Macbride

Mango sacha

Lecythidaceae Edible: Fruit, Pulp around seeds Potential hazards — see below 380 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Description

A tree. It grows 20 m high. The leaves are broadly sword shaped and 32-120 cm long by 12-22 cm wide. The fruit are spindle shape and taper at both ends. They are 4-12 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. They have 8-10 ribs as they dry out. The seeds are round in cross section. They are 3-7 cm long. The pulp of the fruit is orange-yellow.

Edible Uses

The rind of the fruit is edible when ripe. The fruit is highly valued as an emergency food by native peoples. It has a white, succulent pulp. The fruit is roasted and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten after roasting. They are also eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The cambium is used to induce vomiting as a treatment for malaria. It is also given at childbirth to induce vomiting, thereby reducing nausea and improving the appetite. The seed is used in the form of an enema as a treatment for dysentery. The pear-sized fruits are grated and mixed with water to prepare a purgative.

Known Hazards

The twigs are added to the mixture when curare is being prepared from Strychnos jobertiana.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in floodplain forests and up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Australia, Brazil, Colombia*, Ecuador*, Peru*, South America,

Other Uses

The wood is a pale cream-colour when fresh, becoming light brown when dried, often stained dark gray or almost black. Texture is medium; grain straight or wavy; it has a slightly bitter taste. The wood is of medium weight. It is easy to work and takes a fairly smooth polish; checks in drying.

Production

Fruit are available for much of the year.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant. Fruit are sold in markets.

Notes

There are 7 Grias species. It is rich in Vitamin A containing 1.2 mg per 100g. It also has an oil that is rich in omega-3 fatty acid.

Synonyms

Grias lorentensis R. KnuthGrias foetidissima Dugand

Also Known As

Apai, Be naka, Co'cora, Cocorro, Jaija'ocase, Kasi, Noenkawe, Nonkinkawe, Pepe guare, Piton, Pitun, Sacha mango, Ttetteccu'cho, Wenaka, Wenawe, Wingaca, Wingaka

References (17)

Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 3021
Bendezu, Y. F., 2018, Arboles nativos de lad Region Ucayali. Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria. p 181
Etkin, N. L. (Ed.), 1994, Eating on the Wild Side, Univ. of Arizona. p 138, 156
Field Mus. Nat. Hist., Bot. Ser. 11(1):30. 1931
Flores, Y., 2018, Arboles nativos de la Region Ucayili. Estacion Experimental Agragia Pucallpa. Pucallpa Peru, 375 p. p 181

Show all 17 references

Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 270
Hermandez Bermejo, J.E., and Leon, J. (Eds.), 1994, Neglected Crops. 1492 from a different perspective. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No 26. FAO, Rome. p15
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 398
Lamont, S.R., et al, 1999, Species composition, and use of Homegardens among three Amazonian Villages. Economic Botany 53(3) pp 312-326
Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 40
NYBG herbarium 'edible"
Prance, G. T. and Scott A. Mori, 1979 Lecythidaceae: Part I: The Actinomorphic-Flowered New World Lecythidaceae (Asteranthos, Gustavia, Grias, Allantoma, & Cariniana): Flora Neotropica, Vol. 21, No. 1, Lecythidaceae: pp. 111
Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Smith, N., Mori, S.A., et al, 2004, Flowering Plants of the Neotropics. Princeton. p 209
Smith, N., et al, 2007, Amazon River Fruits. Flavors for Conservation. Missouri Botanical Gardens Press. p 134
Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 403
Vasquez, R. and Gentry, A. H., 1989, Use and Misuse of Forest-harvested Fruits in the Iquitos Area. Conservation Biology 3(4): 350f