Theobroma

Theobroma is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously classified as a member of Sterculiaceae, which has been incorporated into Malvaceae to make it monophyletic. It contains roughly 20 species of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

The seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), the best known species of the genus, are used for making chocolate. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), mocambo (Theobroma bicolor) and capacui (Theobroma speciosum) are also of economic importance.

Taxonomy

It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.<ref name = "Tropicos" /><ref name = "Linné, 1753">Linné, Carl von, & Salvius, Lars. (1753). Caroli Linnaei ... Species plantarum :exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas... (Vol. 2, p. 782). Impensis Laurentii Salvii. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358803</ref> The lectotype Theobroma cacao Template:Small was designated in 1929.<ref name = "Tropicos" />

Etymology

The generic name is derived from the Greek words {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} theos meaning "god"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} broma meaning "food"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> translating to "food of the gods".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Species

Species of the genus according to Plants of the World Online Template:As of:<ref name="Plants of the World Online">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Theobroma angustifolium Template:Small	Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá
	Theobroma bernoullii Template:Small	Panama.
File:Inflorescencia axilar.jpg	Theobroma bicolor Template:Small – mocambo	Brazil North, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
File:Árbol Cacao.JPG	Theobroma cacao Template:Small – cacao	Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
	Theobroma canumanense Template:Small	Brazil
	Theobroma cirmolinae Template:Small	Colombia
	Theobroma gileri Template:Small	Colombia, Ecuador
File:Flor de theobroma glaucum.jpg	Theobroma glaucum Template:Small	Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
File:Theobroma grandiflorum, source of Cupulate Chocolate (9906147393).jpg	Theobroma grandiflorum Template:Small – cupuaçu	Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela
	Theobroma hylaeum Template:Small	Colombia, Panamá
File:Theobroma mammosum 2310 06.jpg	Theobroma mammosum Template:Small	Costa Rica, Nicaragua
	Theobroma microcarpum Template:Small	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
	Theobroma nemorale Template:Small	Colombia
	Theobroma obovatum Template:Small	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela
	Theobroma simiarum Template:Small	Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panamá
	Theobroma sinuosum Template:Small	Brazil, Peru
File:Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã César Favacho (2).jpg	Theobroma speciosum Template:Small – cacaui	Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela
	Theobroma subincanum Template:Small	Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
	Theobroma sylvestre Template:Small	Brazil.
	Theobroma velutinum Template:Small	Brazil, French Guiana, Suriname

Formerly placed here

• Abroma augustum (L.) L.f. (as T. augustum L.)
• Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (as T. guazuma L.)
• Herrania albiflora Goudot (as T. albiflorum (Goudot) De Wild.)
• Herrania mariae (Mart.) Decne. ex Goudot (as T. mariae (Mart.) K. Schum.)
• Herrania purpurea (Pittier) R. E. Schult. (as T. purpureum Pittier)<ref name="GRINSpecies">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Theobroma fruits.jpg

From left to right: T. grandiflorum, T. bicolor, T. speciosum, T. cacao

Uses

Several species of Theobroma produce edible seeds, notably cacao, cupuaçu, and mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of cocoa and chocolate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 larvae of another moth, Hypercompe muzina, feed exclusively on Theobroma cacao.

An active ingredient of cacao, theobromine, is named for the genus.

External links

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