可可属 ke ke shu

Trees. Leaves alternate, large and entire. Inflorescence 1-flowered or cymose, usually on trunk or major branches. Flowers bisexual, small and perfect. Calyx 5-lobed, divided nearly to base. Petals 5, lower part deeply concave, middle part becoming narrow, upper spatulate. Stamens in 5 groups of 1-3, alternate with staminodes; filaments connate at base into tube; staminodes 5. Ovary sessile, 5-celled; ovules many per locule; stigma 5-lobed. Fruit large, drupaceous. Seeds many, embedded in pulp; cotyledons fleshy; endosperm absent.

About 22 species: tropical America; one species (introduced) in China.

Lower Taxon

• Theobroma cacao Linnaeus