Chrysobalanus icaco

Chrysobalanus icaco
Chrysobalanus icaco leaves and flowers
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Chrysobalanaceae
Genus: Chrysobalanus
Species:
C. icaco
Binomial name
Chrysobalanus icaco
(L.) L.
Distribution
Synonyms[2]
  • Chrysobalanus atacorensis A.Chev.
  • Chrysobalanus chariensis A.Chev.
  • Maba sudanensis A.Chev.
  • Chrysobalanus purpureus Mill.
  • Chrysobalanus pellocarpus G.Mey.
  • Chrysobalanus ellipticus Sol. ex Sabine
  • Chrysobalanus luteus Sabine
  • Chrysobalanus orbicularis Schumach.
  • Chrysobalanus guianensis Klotzsch
  • Chrysobalanus stuhlmannii Engl.
  • Chrysobalanus savannarum Britton
  • Chrysobalanus interior Small
  • Prunus icaco Labat

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.[2] An evergreen, it is also found as an exotic species on other tropical islands, where it has become a problematic invasive.[3] 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.[4][5] Both the ripe fruit of C. icaco, and the seed inside the ridged shell it contains, are considered edible.[5]

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2019). "Chrysobalanus icaco". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T72231760A149056791. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T72231760A149056791.en. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  3. ^ [1] Chrysobalanus icaco at Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
  4. ^ [2] "Chrysobalanus icaco—Coco-plum", Francis, John K., U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, International Institute of Tropical Forestry, San Juan PR
  5. ^ a b [3] Brown et al, Lee County Extension, Institute of Food and Agricultural Services extension, University of Florida