Characteristics
A large tree. It grows up to 18 m tall. Young branches have dense brown hairs. The leaves are clustered at the tips of flowering branches and alternate on non fruiting branches. They are broadly sword shaped and pointed. They are 10-25 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. The leaves are hairy underneath. The flowers contain both sexes The flowers are 1.3 cm long and on leafless branches in the axils of the leaf scars. The fruit are large and smooth with a green skin. They are 12 cm across. The skin is thin and the flesh is red and juicy. The seeds are small.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
19.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the tropical highlands. It grows on clay soils. It occurs between 1000 and 2300 m altitude in Guatemala. It tolerates 4-5° of frost. It grows in the highlands of Central America.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The fruit are eaten fresh and raw. They are also used for preserves. They are also used for ice-cream. The latex is used as the base for chewing gum.
Cultivation
Plants can be grow from seed. They can also be grown by grafting or air-layering.
| Mode |
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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