Health Benefits

Know about the Candle Tree

Candle Tree, Parmentiera cereifera, is a species of tree belongs to Bignoniaceae family and is endemic to Panama. The family is affluent in secondary metabolites and contains many genera of high economic and medicinal values. It consists of 104 genera and 860 species. This specimen is commonly cultivated in botanical gardens. The tree grows to the height of 6 meters. Leaves are oppositely arranged which consists of three leaflets. Leaflets are glabrous, sub-sessile, elliptic or elliptic obovate and about 1.5–7 cm by 0.75– 3.5 cm. Petioles are winged upto 5 centimeters long. Flowers are solitary which forms in the cluster upto four. Corolla is five lobed and greenish white. Fruit is a taper shaped berry measuring 60 centimeters long. It is green which ripens to yellow and has a waxy texture. Seeds are ellipsoid, compressed and 2.5-3.5 mm long with edible and fleshy pulp.

Culinary uses

It is made into pickles and preserves.

References:

https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=506045#null

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parmentiera_cereifera

http://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2015/vol3issue6/PartA/3-6-1.1-576.pdf

https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PACE8

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Candle Tree Quick Facts
Name: Candle Tree
Scientific Name: Parmentiera cereifera
Origin Central America – Panama
Colors Green turning waxy, yellow
Shapes Candle-shaped berry, 40–60 cm long by 1.5–2.5 cm