Common Name: Pitomba

General Information

Pitomba is a medium-sized evergreen or semi-deciduous tree with a fairly dense, round canopy[]. The tree grows 6 - 14 metres tall, with a bole 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The edible fruit is greatly appreciated and is often gathered from the wild for local use[]. The plant is also often cultivated in domestic orchards for its fruit, which are often sold in street markets[, , ]. The plant also has local medicinal uses and is a source of wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Rainforests, on land that does not become inundated[]. Dense primary forest as well as secondary formations, always in alluvial lowlands, at the bottom of valleys[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot, wet, tropical lowlands[].
Grows best in a sunny position in a deep, fertile soil[].
A moderately fast growing plant when young, reaching 2.5 metres when 2 years old[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A brown-yellow fruit with 1 or 2 large seeds covered in a thin, translucent, sweet and sour flavoured edible pulp[, ]. Very tasty[]. The fruit is about 3cm long and 2.5cm in diameter[]. The fruit is borne in clusters of 10 - 20 fruits[].

Medicinal

The roots are antidote. A decoction, taken internally and also applied topically, is used in the treatment of poisonous animals[]. Combined with the fruit of annatto (Bixa orellana) and the fruit peel of assai (Euterpe spp.), it is used in the treatment of jaundice[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is a light yellowish-brown; it is nor clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain is interlocked; lustre is tenuous, there is no distinctive taste or aroma. The wood is very heavy, hard; it is somewhat durable, especially if kept dry, with some resistance to insect attack but a low resistance to rot. It is used for internal work in buildings, such as ceilings, floor boards and door frames, and also for boxes, carpentry etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - the whole fruit can be sown if done so as soon as it is ripe. If being stored for a short while then it is better to extract the seed from the pulp[]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in individual containers and keep in light shade - do not allow the compost to become dry[]. Most seeds germinate in 15 - 30 days[]. Growth is moderate, taking 6 - 7 months before the plant is ready to be planted into its permanent position[].

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