Chrysobalanus
| Chrysobalanus | |
|---|---|
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| Chrysobalanus icaco | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Chrysobalanaceae |
| Genus: | Chrysobalanus |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Chrysobalanus is a genus of evergreen perennial shrubs to small trees, attaining a maximum height of 25 or 30 feet native to sub-tropical and tropical climates. The plant is found in coastal areas throughout the Tropical Americas as a wild plant, and is frequently planted in gardens. It has a low-growing and sprawling habit. It can form dense stands and become invasive. The leaves are obovate or obcordate in outline, about 2in long, thick, glossy, and deep green in color. It has small white flowers, in axillary racemes or cymes, not too showy, but they have a dainty and sweet fragrance. This plant bears a damson-sized edible red pulpy fruit with a black and thin skin, resembles a large plum in appearance, being oval 1.5in long. The sweet fruits with white flesh, which is cottony and of insipid taste, adheres closely to the large oblong seed turn from creamy tones to dark-blue pleasing tasty peaches which can be made into a sweet preserved jam, made by the earliest arrivals to the low-lying Florida peninsula. The fruit is extensively used in the tropics, especially by the poorer classes.
Species
- Chrysobalanus ellipticus
- Chrysobalanus icaco (coco plum)
References
- Ellison, Don (1999) Cultivated Plants of the World. London: New Holland (1st ed.: Brisbane: Flora
Publications International, 1995) ISBN 1-85974-256-4