Chrysobalanus icaco

Chrysobalanus icaco, the cocoplum, paradise plum, abajeru or icaco, also called fat pork in Trinidad and Tobago, is a low shrub or bushy tree found near sea beaches and inland throughout tropical Africa, tropical Americas and the Caribbean, and in southern Florida and the Bahamas. An evergreen, it is also found as an exotic species on other tropical islands, where it has become a problematic invasive. Although taxonomists disagree on whether Chrysobalanus icaco has multiple subspecies or varieties, it is recognized as having two ecotypes, described as an inland, much less salt-tolerant, and more upright C. icaco var. pellocarpus and a coastal C. icaco var. icaco. Both the ripe fruit of C. icaco, and the seed inside the ridged shell it contains, are considered edible.

Description

A shrub or small evergreen tree. It grows 1-6 m tall. The branches are long, flexible and whip-like. The leaves are evenly spaced and leathery. They are rounded and stiffly erect. They are simple and rich green. The flowers are small and greenish-white. They are in erect clusters in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is smooth and white, yellow, red, black or purple. It has a cotton like pulp. The fruit contains a large nut-like edible seed with 5 ridges.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It has a fairly sweet, white, spongy flesh and can be stewed in sugar, dried like prunes, or made into jams and jellies. The ovoid fruit is 2–5cm long; purple or red-skinned forms are considered superior in flavour to white ones. The seed is also edible raw or cooked and has a delicious flavour — it is typically roasted and eaten. When the fruits are preserved, they are pierced right through the centre including the seed, which allows the fruit juice to penetrate; after separation from the shell, the nut-like kernel is eaten. An edible oil can also be extracted from the seed.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are normally used for preserves. They are also candied. They can be eaten raw. They are used for jams and jellies. For preserves the fruit is pierced through including the kernel to allow the syrup to penetrate. The seed kernel is roasted and eaten. (The shell is removed)

Medicinal Uses

The root, bark, fruit, and leaves all contain tannins and are astringent. They are used internally to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, and dyspepsia, and externally as a wash for skin complaints. The juice of the roots and leaves, mixed with oil, is used to contract the sphincters of the vulva by women wishing to simulate virginity, and the same preparation is used by men to treat flaccid scrotum.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the hot tropical lowlands. It grows in sandy coastal locations. The soil needs to be very well drained. It can be used to stabilise dunes. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Amazon, Angola, Antigua, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil*, Cameroon, Caribbean, Cayman Islands, Central Africa, Central America*, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Liberia, Marquesas, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed, cuttings or by layering. Seed can be collected from ripe fruit that are allowed to rot to make it easier to remove the seed. Seed only store for a short time. Fresh seed should be planted. They germinate in 20-25 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field in 6-7 days.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded nursery seedbed. A moderate germination rate can be expected, with sprouting occurring within 20–25 days. When seedlings reach 4–5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers; they should be ready to plant out 6–7 months later. Propagation is also possible from soft nodal cuttings, woody stem cuttings, and layering.

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a hedge and are particularly well suited to coastal conditions. The plant often forms large, rambling, impenetrable thickets and has been used to stabilize sand dunes. An oil can be obtained from the seed. The seeds are so rich in oil that they can be strung on sticks and burned like candles. The bark is rich in tannins. A black dye can be obtained from both the fruit and the leaves.

Other Information

The fruit are eaten by children. The fruit are served in restaurants in Cuba. It is a cultivated food plant. They are also bottled.

Notes

There are 3 Chrysobalanus species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Baraska siuli, Bopace, Caco, Caimito, Cocoaplum, Ebenga, Ebenha, Enhapitche, Fat pork, Hicaco, Icaco, Icacopruim, Ikak, Man du'a, Odora pear, Pe-pe, Pigeon plum, Ponm zikak, Siringuela

References (64)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 1484
• Ambasta, S. P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 122
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 111
• Blake, S. F., Native Names and Uses of some Plants of Eastern Guatemala and Honduras. Contributions from the National Herbarium. p 91
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 2. Kew.

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