Amphitecna latifolia
(Mill.) A. H. Gentry
Savannah black calabash
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Reinaldo Aguilar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Reinaldo Aguilar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
Summary
Source: WikipediaAmphitecna latifolia is a species of plant in the family Bignoniaceae from Belize and Costa Rica.
Description
An upright tree. It is small and evergreen. It can grow 10 m high. The trunk often forks near the ground. The leaves are dark green and 18 cm long. They are alternate and simple. The flowers are tube shaped and 5 cm long. They are purplish white. The fruit are smooth and shiny green. They are 10 cm long. They have several 1.5 cm long black seeds in white pulp. The seeds are edible.
Edible Uses
The white pulp of the fruit, and the seeds, are edible. The green, ovoid fruits are up to 16cm long by 9cm in diameter, containing a white fleshy pulp that surrounds several black seeds each 3cm in diameter.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are eaten. They are also made into a drink like cocoa.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The tree (fruit?) has medicinal uses.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 10-11. It can grow in part shade or full sun. It is tolerant to drought and also to some salt. It often grows near mangroves.
Where It Grows
Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Puerto Rico, South America, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela, West Indies*,
Cultivation
Plants are grown by seed, cuttings or air-layering.
Other Uses
The fruit is used to make musical instruments such as the guira (a percussion instrument). The wood is hard and rot-resistant.
References (7)
- Condit, R., et al, 2011, Trees of Panama and Costa Rica. PrincetonField Guides. p 88
- Gilman, E.F. and Watson, D.G., 1993, Amphictecna latifolia Black Calabash, US Forest Service Fact Sheet ST-79. http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/AMPLATA.pdf
- Grandtner, M. M., 2008, World Dictionary of Trees. Wood and Forest Science Department. Laval University, Quebec, Qc Canada. (Internet database http://www.WDT.QC.ca)
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 29
- Little, E. L., et al, 1974, Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. USDA Handbook 449. Forestry Service. p 896 (As Enallagma latifolia)
Show all 7 references Hide references
- Plants of Haiti Smithsonian Institute http://botany.si.edu
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
