Theobroma cacao L.

sect. Theobroma
Common Name: Cacao, Chocolate
Family: Malvaceae Juss.

Country of Origin: Central & South America
Habitat: understory plant in wet, lowland tropics

Description: This small evergreen from Central America is grown throughout the wet, lowland tropics under the shade of taller trees and is the source of commercial cocoa and chocolate. Flowers are borne on the trunk, a good example of cauliflory. The 8-12" long, yellow or red fruit has a white, mucilaginous, mildly sweet pulp which can be eaten and many flat seeds.

Uses: The source of commercial cocoa and chocolate. The oil from the seeds is used in cosmetics and perfumes.

Culture: Propagated by seed, cutting, air layering or grafting.

USDA Zone: 11-12

Accession Data:

Accession # 200300150
Source: Jodi Bjork - UMM
Accession Date: 04-25-2003
Bench: 1303 - NEOA: Ground Bed 1 NE
- Currently: active - healthy
- Qty: 1 confirmed on 09-14-2023

Classification:

Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
SubClass: eurosid II
Order: Malvales
SubOrder:
Family: Malvaceae
SubFamily: Byttneroideae
Tribe: Theobromeae
SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:

Year	Jan				Feb				Mar					Apr				May				Jun					Jul				Aug				Sep					Oct				Nov				Dec
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References (internal):

EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Mexico Southwest / Belize / Costa Rica / Nicaragua / Panama / Venezuela / Colombia / Ecuador

References (external):

California Rare Fruit Growers WWW Site
The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Thursday, October 20, 2016.
Theobroma cacao at Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Last accessed on Thursday, October 20, 2016.
Images #00 (cropped) and #05 (original) by Luisovalles (Own work) [GFDL or CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Last accessed on Friday, July 21, 2017.

data regenerated on Thu, 14 Sep 2023 13:21:06 -0400 [bcm v4.0]