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Pacira (Pachira aquatica)
Common Name
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Malabar chestnut, money tree |
Description
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Pachira aquatica can grow up to 18 m (59.1 ft) in height in the wild. It has shiny green palmate leaves with lanceolate leaflets and smooth green bark. The plant forms a slightly thickened root with smaller roots or roots, which also serves as a water reservoir. The relatively smooth bark is brown to gray and slightly cracked, young branches are vigorously green. At home, P. aquatica produces a broad crow Malabar chestnut is an evergreen tree with a dense, roundish crown. It usually grows 6 – 14 metres tall, but exceptionally to 23 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 30 – 40cm in diameter, usually branching from fairly low down. The plant has a wide range of uses, being valued especially for its edible seeds but also providing other foods, medicines, fibre, dyestuff, wood, etc. It is often cultivated and has become naturalized, in many areas of the tropics for its edible. The tree is also planted as a street tree, to provide shade and as an ornamental in gardens. |
Products
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Seed – raw or cooked. The raw seed tastes like peanuts, when roasted or fried in oil it has the flavour of chestnuts. The roasted seeds taste like cocoa. The seed can be ground into flour and used to make a loaf of bread. The roasted seed is sometimes used to make a beverage. The seeds are contained in a large capsule that can be up to 30cm long and weigh 3 kilos. |
