Theobroma cacao
Cacao
Also known as: Cacao minar Gaertn. +7 more
- Cacao minar Gaertn.
- Theobroma cocao L.
- Theobroma kalagua De Wild.
- Theobroma kalagua DeWild.
- Theobroma pentogona Bernoulli
- Theobroma saltzmanniana Bernoulli
- Theobroma sativa var. leucosperma A.Chev.
- Theobroma sativa var. melanosperma A.Chev.
Botanical Data
- Taxonomic Rank: Species
- Botanical Family: Malvaceae
- WCVP Morphological Data: Recorded natively as a tree.
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Originating in South America, Theobroma cacao (commonly known as Cacao) is a tree belonging to the Malvaceae family. Within its native range, this species is most commonly linked to wet tropical conditions.
Macro Climate
Tropical
Plant Type
Tree
Native Range
Continents (WGSRPD)
SOUTHERN AMERICA
Regions (WGSRPD)
Brazil, Central America, Northern South America, Western South America
Botanical Countries (WGSRPD L3)
Brazil North, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Venezuela
Introduced Range
An “Introduced” distribution indicates that the plant is recorded outside its native range in that region as a result of deliberate or accidental human introduction. Introduced records may include casual, naturalized or invasive populations, but do not include plants that are only cultivated or planted without self-sustaining populations.
Botanical Countries (Non-Native)
Andaman Is., Belize, Bolivia, Brazil Northeast, C. American Pacific Is., Cameroon, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., China South-Central, Comoros, Cook Is., Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Laos, Leeward Is., Marianas, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicobar Is., Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Seychelles, Society Is., Sri Lanka, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Windward Is., Zaïre