Jacaratia spinosa (Aubl.) A.Dc.

A small soft wooded tree. It grows 10-20 m high. It is prickly. The trunk can be 70-90 cm across. The leaves are compound and divided into leaflets like fingers on a hand. There are 8-12 leaflets. The fruit is 8-12 cm long and 4 cm across. There are several seeds inside.

Humid forests at low and medium elevations. Savannahs, riverbanks and forested areas throughout Brazil. Most commonly found growing in the fertile soils of valley bottoms and alluvial plains of primary and secondary rainforests.

The fruit are cut to release the latex then eaten raw. They are also roasted. The fruit is used for jam. The seeds are roasted and eaten. The branches are used to make sweets. The wood has a soft, fleshy white latex.

Plants are grown from seed or stem cuttings. The ripe fruit are harvested directly from the tree then the seeds are removed and washed. They are dried in the shade. Seeds can only be stored for a short time. Fresh seed are planted. They germinate in 10-20 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 3-4 months.