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Cashew
-
(Anacardium
Occidentale)
Family:
Anacardiaceae
Common
Names: Acajuiba, acacauba, acajou, acaju, acajaiba, alcayoiba, anacarde,
anacardier, anacardo, caju, cajueiro, cashú, casho, cajuil, cajou,
caracolí, casoi, caují, cayutero, gajus, jambu, jambu golok, jambu
mete, jambu monyet, jambu terong, jocote, marañón, merey, cajul nut,
noix d’acajou, oacajú, pajuil, panjí, paujil, pomme cajou, pomme.
It is a tree that reaches 5 to 20 meters in height (15
feet to 75 feet approximately) and 10 to 40 centimeters in diameter.
It has an irregular trunk of low and medium high ramification. The
bark is black to grey and the internal wood is red. Wounds on the
trunk or branches produce an aromatic resin called Cashua or
Anacardium gum, which is usually clear but turns red and black with
the passing of time. The leaves are simple and grouped at the end of
the branches, sometimes of red color when young and measure 6 to 24
centimeters in length and 3 to 10 centimeters in width.
Distribution:
In
Panama, Cashew fruit trees grow in low and medium elevations and dry
or humid climates. It is very common in open areas with red degraded
soils where it grows,
with other trees like
Chumico (Curatella
americana)
and
Nance (Byrsonima
crassifolia).
The provinces with greater present production are Veraguas (Areas of
Mariato, Calobre, Sona and La Mesa), Panama (Areas of Chorrera,
Tocumen, Pacora, Chepo y Chiman), Chiriqui (Areas of Tolé, David) and
Cocle (Areas of Antón, Natá, Penonome and Aguadulce).
Uses:
This species has been cultivated for the nutritional
and commercial value of its fruits (nuts). The ripe stems are edible
and therefore, utilized in the manufacture of drinks and ice cream.
The nuts oil is called cardol and it is very irritating and
caustic, causing strong irritation on skin contact. This oil is
utilized for healing purposes to treat skin warts and skin eruptions
formed by leishmanial ulcers. The trunk expels a resin that is
utilized as a gum. The bark is utilized to cure diarrhea, throat
infections, hemorrhage and to promote healing of wounds and it is also
utilized in leather manufacturing. Tool handles are manufactured with
the wood of the tree. |
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