Platonia
{{Short description|Genus of trees}}
{{Other uses|Platonia (disambiguation)}}
{{Redirect|Pacuri|the village of Păcuri in Prahova County, Romania|Surani, Prahova}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Bacuri Platonia insignis 3.JPG
|display_parents = 2
|genus = Platonia
|parent_authority = Mart.
|species = insignis
|authority = Mart.
|synonyms = Aristoclesia esculenta Stuntz
Moronobea esculenta
Platonia esculenta (Arruda) Rickett & Stafleu
}}
File:Platonia insignis MHNT.BOT.2010.6.50.jpg
Platonia insignis, the sole species of the genus Platonia, is a tree of the family Clusiaceae native to South America in the humid forests of Brazil, Paraguay, parts of Colombia and northeast to Guyana; especially in Amazon Rainforest. Common names include bacuri (and numerous variant spellings thereof; bacurí, bacury, bakuri, pacuri, pakuri, pakouri, packoeri, pakoeri), maniballi, naranjillo and bacurizeiro.
There was a degree of nomenclatural confusion, caused by Moronobea esculenta. If that were validly published for this species the current name would be Platonia esculenta. It was established that Moronobea esculenta is not a formal name (not "validly published"), so the name remains Platonia insignis.{{sfn|van Rijckevorsel|2002}}{{sfn|Kirkbride|2007}}
Platonia is related to MontrouzieraRuhfel, B. R., V. Bittrich, C. P. Bove, M. H. G. Gustafsson, C. T. Philbrick, R. Rutishauser, Z. Xi, and C. C. Davis (2011). Phylogeny of the Clusioid Clade (Malpighiales): Evidence from the Plastid and Mitochondrial Genomes. American Journal of Botany 98: 306–25. from New Caledonia.
Description
Platonia insignis is a dry-season deciduous tree, reaching 25–40 m high. It has a pyramidal crown and copious yellow latex in the bark. The leaves are opposite, simple oblong to elliptic, 8–15 cm long, and glossy dark green, with wavy margins and a leathery texture.
The flowers are 5–7 cm long and pink in color, with five petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is round to oval and 7–14 cm long, with a thick, yellow skin. It resembles a papaya. The rind exudes a yellow latex when pressed.Rogez, H., et al. (2004). [https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00217-003-0853-6 Chemical composition of the pulp of three typical Amazonian fruits: araça-boi] (Eugenia stipitata), bacuri (Platonia insignis) and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum). European Food Research and Technology 214(4) {{doi|10.1007/s00217-003-0853-6}} The sticky white pulp is fragrant, with a taste that is both sweet and sour. There are 3 to 5 seeds.
The white-bellied parrot (Pionites leucogaster) is a pollinator of the plant, making it ornithophilous.[http://home.rochester.rr.com/thecaiques/glossary.htm Cornell University Caique Glossary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027071142/http://home.rochester.rr.com/thecaiques/glossary.htm |date=2007-10-27 }}
Cultivation and uses
The bacuri is grown for its fruit, which is made into various condiments and beverages. It contains high levels of phosphorus, iron, and vitamin C. The oily brown seeds are used as a home remedy to treat skin conditions. Its yellowish wood is frequently used as timber.
Oil and butter
File:Bacuri fruit and the butter from the seeds.JPG
The grease of the bacuri oil has a high absorption rate, due to its high level of tripalmitin (50% to 55%), which penetrates the skin quickly. The high amount of fatty palmitoleic acid (5%), compared to other oils (less than or equal to 0.5 to 1.5%), makes the bacuri oil useful as an emollient and moisturizing agent.Morais, L. R. Banco de Dados Sobre Espécies Oleaginosas da Amazônia, não-publicado{{full citation needed|date=July 2016}}
Physico-chemical data
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Index | Unit | Reference value |
|---|---|---|
| Iodine Index | gl2/100g | 57 |
| saponification index | mgKOH/g | 211 |
| acidity | mgKOH/g | 10,71 |
| Index peroxide | meq/Kg | 5 |
| Fusion point | °C | 35 |
Chemistry
Platonia is a natural source of trioxygenated xanthones.Peres, V. and T. J. Nagem. (1997). [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6TH7-3S95K2R-3-4&_cdi=5275&_user=4296857&_pii=S0031942296004219&_orig=search&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F1997&_sk=999559997&view=c&wchp=dGLbVtz-zSkzk&md5=5109cf4955e03777ca32725f0bb0a303&ie=/sdarticle.pdf Trioxygenated naturally occurring xanthones.] Phytochemistry 44(2) 191-214. {{doi|10.1016/S0031-9422(96)00421-9}} The latex contains resinotol.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/ibc/pdf/coppens/Fruits%20from%20America/Ficha%20Platonia%20insignis.htm |title=Platonia insignis |access-date=2010-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718164559/http://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/ibc/pdf/coppens/Fruits%20from%20America/Ficha%20Platonia%20insignis.htm |archive-date=2011-07-18 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book|last=Clement|first=Charles|title=The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts|year=2006|publisher=CABI|location=Cambridge, MA|isbn=9780851996387|pages=269–272|editor=Jules Janick, Robert Paull|chapter=Platonia esculenta bacuri}}
- {{cite journal |first=Paul |last=van Rijckevorsel |title=(1564) Proposal to Conserve the Name Platonia insignis against Moronobea esculenta (Guttiferae) |journal=Taxon |volume=51 |issue=4 |date=November 2002 |pages=813–815 |doi=10.2307/1555050|jstor=1555050|doi-access=free }}
- {{cite journal|last1=Kirkbride|first1=Joseph H.|title=A 19th Century Brazilian botanical dictionary|journal=Taxon|date=August 2007|volume=56|issue=3|pages=927–937|url=http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/7107/PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905005633/http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/7107/PDF|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 5, 2012|access-date=11 May 2015|doi=10.2307/25065874|jstor=25065874|url-access=subscription}}
{{Refend}}
External links
{{Commons category|Platonia insignis}}
- [http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/ven-guayana/clusiaceae/page13.shtml Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana: Platonia]
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q2654886|from2=Q15371504}}
Category:Monotypic Malpighiales genera
Category:Trees of the Amazon rainforest
Category:Crops originating from South America