Pouteria lucuma
(Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze
Sapotaceae
Achras lucuma Ruiz & Pav.
Lucuma bifera Molina
Lucuma obovata Kunth
Lucuma turbinata Molina
Pouteria insignis Baehni
Richardella lucuma (Ruiz & Pav.) Aubrév.
Common Name: Lucuma
Drawing of the leaves, flowers, fruit and seed
Photograph by: Ruiz Lopez, H., Pavon, J., Flora Peruviana, et Chilensis, Plates 153-325, vol. 2: p. 17, t. 239 (1798-1802)
Drawing of the leaves, flowers, fruit and seed
Photograph by: Ruiz Lopez, H., Pavon, J., Flora Peruviana, et Chilensis, Plates 153-325, vol. 2: p. 17, t. 239 (1798-1802)
General Information
Pouteria lucuma is an evergreen tree that can grow 25 metres or more tall, but is usually smaller[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
].
A popular fruit within the plant's native range, where it is often gathered from the wild. The tree is also often cultivated for its edible fruit, especially in the subtropics of S. America, the fruit often being found for sale in local markets[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
412- Title
- Illustrated Guide to the Trees of Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pennington, T.D.; Reynel, C. & Daza, A.
- Publisher
- David Hunt; Sherbourne, England.
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0 9538134 3 6
- Description
- A very terse guide to the trees of Peru, managing to give basic guides to a large number of genera, with more detail on a few species in each genus.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Habitat
Wet montane and cloud forest at elevations of 1,500 - 3,000 metres in Peru[
412- Title
- Illustrated Guide to the Trees of Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Pennington, T.D.; Reynel, C. & Daza, A.
- Publisher
- David Hunt; Sherbourne, England.
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0 9538134 3 6
- Description
- A very terse guide to the trees of Peru, managing to give basic guides to a large number of genera, with more detail on a few species in each genus.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 25.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of higher elevations in tropical climates with medium rainfall, also growing well at lower elevations in the subtropics[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. In the tropics it grows best at elevations from 1,500 - 3,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 27°c, but can tolerate 11 - 36°c[
]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -5°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 300 - 2,300mm[
].
Grows best in a sunny position[
]. Succeeds in most well-drained, moderately fertile soils[
]. Tolerates moderate levels of salt in the soil[
]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8.5[
].
Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round[
].
There are some named varieties[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].
Edible Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. It is also dried and made into a meal that can be added to wheat flour, cornmeal or starch and used in making a range of drinks and desserts[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The meal adds a strong odour and colour to ice cream, sherbets, puddings etc[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The fruit has a green to brownish green pulp that is dry and firm in texture with a very rich, sweet flavour that is somewhat reminiscent of a baked sweet potato[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
307- Title
- Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Barwick. M.
- Publisher
- Thames & Hudson, London
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
- 0-500-51181-0
- Description
- A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
]. The ovate fruit is 4 - 8cm long[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
].
Medicinal
The fruit is said to promote lactation in women after they have given birth[
1628- Title
- Medicinal Plants of the Andes and the Amazon: The magic and medicinal flora of Northern Peru
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bussmann R.W. & Sharon D.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2015
- ISBN
- 10:0-9960231-2-7
- Description
- An introduction to traditional herbalism in Peru plus brief information on the medicinal uses of
]
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - remove it from its husk before sowing[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Side-grafting.
Air-layering may be possible[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
