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Useful Tropical Plants

Vasconcellea parviflora

A.DC.

Caricaceae

+ Synonyms

Carica leptantha Harms

Carica paniculata Spruce

Carica parviflora (A.DC.) Solms

Papaya paniculata (Spruce) Kuntze

Papaya parviflora (A.DC.) Kuntze

Common Name:

Vasconcellea parviflora
Flowers
Photograph by: Eduardo Dios
Creative Commons License

General Information

Vasconcellea parviflora is a deciduous shrub growing 50 - 200cm tall[
434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
].
The edible fruit is harvested from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador.

Habitat

Dry to very dry environments on the Pacific slopes of the Andes at elevations from sea level to 1,800 metres.

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height1.50 m
Self-fertileNo
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level to over 2,000 metres.
Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained soil[
385
Title
Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - 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.
]. Said to have the fragrance and flavour of a mombin (Spondias spp.)[
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 is the size of a small melon with a taste somewhat similar, but to improve it longitudinal incisions must be made in it some days before eating so that the milky sap, which is somewhat bitter, may drain away[
434
Title
Flora of Peru
Publication
 
Author
Macbride. J.F.
Publisher
Field Museum of Natural History
Year
1936
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent attempt at a Flora of Peru, though it is clear that many of the plants were imperfectly known at that time and so information on them was sketchy. Available for download from the Internet.
]. The orange fruit is about 20 - 30mm long and 10 - 15mm wide.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in individual containers or in a nursery seedbed in light shade. Germination can be slow and difficult, taking about 30 days[
670
Title
Study of the Cultivation Potential of Native Fruit Species in Loja Province, Ecuador
Publication
 
Author
Scheldeman X.
Website
http://www.tropicallab.ugent.be/start.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A partial study, published on the Internet, of the family Caricaceae, with some very good photographs. Also, some notes on the Cherimoya.
]. Seedlings can be planted out when 4 - 6 months old[
670
Title
Study of the Cultivation Potential of Native Fruit Species in Loja Province, Ecuador
Publication
 
Author
Scheldeman X.
Website
http://www.tropicallab.ugent.be/start.htm
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A partial study, published on the Internet, of the family Caricaceae, with some very good photographs. Also, some notes on the Cherimoya.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Vasconcellea+parviflora>

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