Thanks for the nice photographs and info. The tree is cultivated on large scale in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka for its fruits used for manufacture of chocolates.
On Mar 1, 12:07 pm, Bhatt Sweta <[email protected]> wrote: > *Theobroma cacao* or the *cocoa tree* > Location: Jeejamata Udhyan > Family: Sterculiaceae > > *Theobroma cacao* genetics seem to show that the plant originated in the > Amazon > The scientific name *Theobroma* means "food of the gods". > > The flowers are produced in clusters directly on the trunk and older > branches; they are small, 1–2 cm (1/2–1 in) diameter, with pink calyx. > Cacao flowers are pollinated by tiny flies, *Forcipomyia* midges in the > order Diptera > > The fruit is called a cacao pod and contains 20 to 60 seeds, usually called > "beans", embedded in a white pulp, which form the main ingredient for the > CHOCOLATE!! > > Each seed contains a significant amount of fat (40–50%) as cocoa butter. > Their most noted active constituent is theobromine, a compound similar to > caffeine. > > -- > *Bhatt Shweta* > *Asso. Prof.,* > TCSC, > *Doctoral Research Student,* > M.S.U. > > Theobroma cacao.jpg > 108KViewDownload > > Theobroma cacao (1).jpg > 156KViewDownload
