Herrania Marie - Cacau Jacaré

Seeds were imported from Brazil. Herrania mariae is an evergreen tree with a subglobose crown, that can grow up to 9 meters tall, with unconfirmed reports of trees 18 meters tall. Often a multi-trunked tree, with up to 5 or 6 main trunks growing from the roots, each trunk can be 7 - 30cm in diameter. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food. This species can be found growing in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia. The following report is based mainly on the seeds of H. Nitida, but the seed of this species is likely to be very similar. The seed contains up to 66% oil[635 ]. It is solid at room temperature, turning liquid at 25 - 29°c. The oil comprises 18 - 26% linoleic acid, 2 - 7% oleic acid and 74 - 76% saturated acids. Although we have no specific information for this species, the pulp surrounding the fruits of most, if not all members of the genus are edible. This white, acidulous pulp is eaten raw and is most delicious just before the complete ripening of the fruit. Seeds will be shipped in humid vermiculite.