Papaturro is a plant called “Coccoloba caracasana”. It is a plant that belongs to the “Polygonaceae” family. Papaturro is a plant native to Central America and Mexico. It grows and is found in the areas of El Salvador to Panama and northern South America.
The name coccoloba is derived from the Greek word “kokkolobis”. So called because the fruit bunches are similar to the bunches on grapes. It is an edible fruitful plant. While the wood or trunk is usually used as firewood and as a house support. The leaves are beautiful and are usually used as decoration.
Plant Description
Papaturro has a small to medium size and it has a lot of stalks and can grow to a height of 6 meters to 18 meters. This plant, called papaturro, is a plant that likes sandy, wet and loose soil that is usually found along river flows. The leaves are alternately located and are oval, broad, smooth about 8-14 inches long.
The flowers are small, green and fragrant, and soft. Its aroma often attracts bees to come to suck the honey. The fruit of the papaturro plant are achenes with a white to transparent color.
This fruit is like grapes and tastes sweet. The fruit is also used to make jam. The bunch or where the fruit is attached is the same as the bunch on a vine. Papaturro nose quickly and easily, the method of reproduction is by seed or by cutting the stems.
History
The papaturro tree grows along the Pacific coast and is a fruit tree native to Mexico and Central America. Papaturro or Coccoloba caracasana is a tropical plant, it likes dry season and is very fond of sandy soil. Usually, most people cultivate this plant for its shade and shade because of its lush leaves.
Culinary Uses
Papaturro has a slightly sweet fruit and is usually eaten straight away without needing to cook it.
In Central America since the dry season you can find many children who collect the fruit that falls on the ground. The fruit that falls from this wild tree is then consumed as a healthy snack.
Also see: Health Benefits of Palmyra Fruit
Other facts
- The leaves of the papaturro plant are usually used as decoration and also as a shelter.
- While the wood is used as fence wood or firewood
- This plant is also used as a shade plant for other plants that are underneath.
Papaturro facts
| Name | Papaturro |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coccoloba caracasana |
| Native | Mexico and Central America |
| Plant Growth Habit | Small to medium-sized, oen multi-stemmed evergreen tree |
| Soil | Prefers sandy, loose and wet soil; it may be found along rivers |
| Plant Size | 6–18 m (20–60 ft.) tall |
| Bark | Black outer shell and fissured |
| Stem | Puberulent to glabrescent stems |
| Leaf | Papaturro has alternating leaves, simple, broad, oval, long and leathery or soft, it is about 20–35 cm (8–14 in) |
| Flower | fragrant, small, greenish, arranged in racemose inflorescences clustered in terminal and lateral spikes |
| Fruit Shape & Size | An achene with a semipulpous edible flesh |
| Flesh Color | Whitish to translucent, sweet juicy pulp |
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccoloba_caracasana
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COCCO
