Common Name: Cocora

General Information

Cocora is a fast-growing, evergreen tree that can reach a height of around 30 metres[]. It has clusters of exceptionally large, leathery leaves up to 110cm long carried at the ends of branches, and fragrant, fleshy white flowers[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local use and the plant is also occasionally cultivated in house-gardens as a fruit tree and as an ornamental[]. The fruit is sold as a snack on the streets of Iquitos[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northwestern S. America - Ecuador to Peru.

Habitat

Wet tropical forests, often along streambanks, and in wooded swamplands[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, succeeding also in the humid subtropics[].
The tree enjoys flooded environments and fertile, alluvial soils[]. It is able to resist heavy and prolonged flooding[].
The fruits can cause rodent problems in fields[].

Edible Uses

The mesocarp of the large single-seeded fruit is eaten raw[]. Soaking it in water softens the mesocarp to an agreeable texture[]. The fruit can also be roasted, which softens the mesocarp into a butter-like texture[, ].

Medicinal

Scrapings from germinating seeds in tepid water are used as an emetic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is small with a narrow trunk and branches, and a small tuft-like canopy. This makes it easy to interplant with most any crop. It does well planted in association with aguaje, camu camu, Spondias and Eugenia species[].

Other Uses

An oil is extracted from the fruits[].

Propagation

Seed - germination can be a lengthy process, with the root growing slowly months before the plant stem emerges from the seed[]. Placing the seed in mud under floodwaters water is a good germination method that mimics natural conditions for the plant[].
Cuttings of mature wood[].

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?