Talisia esculenta

taxobox
name = "Talisia esculenta"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Sapindales
familia = Sapindaceae
genus = "Talisia"
species = "T. esculenta"
binomial = "Talisia esculenta"
binomial_authority = Radlk.|

"Talisia esculenta" is a medium-sized tree native to the Amazon Basin, and is found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay and Bolivia. It can grow to a height of 9-20 m, with a trunk up to 45 cm diameter. The leaves are arranged alternately, pinnately compound, with 5-11 leaflets, the leaflets 5-12 cm long and 2-5 cm broad.

The flowers are produced in a panicle 10-15 cm long, the individual flowers small and white. The fruit is round to ellipsoid in shape, 1.5-4 cm in diameter, with a brown skin over a white sweet-sour pulp and one to two nut-like seeds. The fruit is eaten fresh and used to make juice. The sap used as a fish poison. Roasted seeds are used to treat diarrhea.

The tree and fruit are called "pitomba" in English, Spanish and Portuguese, "cotopalo" in Spanish, "pitoulier comestible" in French and "olho de boi", "pitomba-rana" and "pitomba de macaco" in Portuguese. "Pitomba" is also used as the name for "Eugenia luschnathiana".

References

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20070606225348/http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ipgri/fruits_from_americas/frutales/Ficha+Talisia+esculenta.htm International Plant Genetic Resources Institute: "Talisia esculenta"]
* [http://www.montosogardens.com/talisia_esculenta.htm "Talisia esculenta"] URL retrieved April 7 2006
* [http://www.alicesoftware.com/webs/trees_new/aweb/td001/td_00040.htm Arvores e Arbustos do Brasil: "Talisia esculenta"] (in Portuguese)
* [http://fm2.fieldmuseum.org/vrrc/max/SAPI-tali-escu-bra-680677.jpgField Museum: herbarium specimen (photo)]