Theobroma

genus of plants

Theobroma is a genus. There are about 20 species in it. They are small trees, native to the forests of Central and South America. The name translates to food of the gods.

Theobroma
Cacao tree with fruit pods
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Subfamily: Byttnerioideae
Tribe: Theobromateae
Genus: Theobroma
L.[1]

Their family is given as Sterculiaceae or sometimes as Malvaceae.

Some of these trees have edible seeds. Best known are perhaps the Cacao tree, the source of cocoa and chocolate. Other well-known trees are Cupuaçu, and Mocambo.

Theobroma species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita including E. chalybeatus, E. damor, E. hosei and E. sericeus. The larva of another moth, Hypercompe muzina, feeds exclusively on Theobroma cacao.

References

change
  1. "Genus: Theobroma L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 5 Jun 2003. Retrieved 9 December 2010.