Carpotroche platyptera
Pittier
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) ramon_d, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by ramon_d
Description
A shrub or small tree. It grows 1-8 m tall. The leaves are narrowly oval. The flowers grow on the trunk. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in groups and female flowers occur singly. The fruit are orange to red and have angles like a carambola. They fruit are 6 cm long and 4-5 cm wide.
Edible Uses
The fruit are eaten.
Distribution
A tropical plant.
Where It Grows
Central America, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, South America,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed. The seeds are put in warm water before planting. They germinate in 4-8 weeks.
Notes
There are about 30 Carpotroche species. They are also put in the family Kiggelariaceae and Euphorbiacece. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Vehica
References (2)
- Barfod, A. S. & Kvist, L. P., 1996, Comparative Ethnobotanical Studies of the Amerindian Groups in Coastal Ecuador. The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. p 78
- Pittier: Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. xii. 178 (1909)
