Quararibea cordata

Quararibea cordata, known as the South American sapote or chupa-chupa, is a large, semi-deciduous fruit tree reaching heights of up to 45 meters. It is native to the Amazon rainforest vegetation in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.^[2]

Flower

Quararibea cordata
Fruit, in Brazil
Quararibea cordata, Illustration.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Malvaceae
Genus:	Quararibea
Species:	Q. cordata
Binomial name
Quararibea cordata Vischer
Synonyms[1]
Matisia cordata Bonpl. Quararibea cordata (Bonpl.) García-Barr. & Hern.Cam. nom. illeg.

Description

The tree produces orange-yellow fruits that are soft, juicy, and sweet, each containing 2-5 seeds. These fruits are typically consumed fresh by hand, although they can also be juiced.^[2]

Although generally popular, the fruit is variable in quality, as some trees may produce insipid or fibrous fruits. Little work has been done to establish preferred cultivars. Quararibea cordata thrives in wet, deep soils, but it is susceptible to being killed by floods.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

Quararibea cordata is native to the foothills of the Andes and is commonly found throughout parts of Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia, as well as rural southern Panama. However, it is not widely cultivated^[2]

Chupa-chupa has failed to gain much international recognition and has not been widely planted outside its native range. In 1964, US pomologist Bill Whitman obtained seeds from Peru and planted a tree in his garden at Bal Harbour, Florida, where it has successfully fruited.^[3]

Gallery

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