Breadnut [Greek brosimos, edible]

Trees , evergreen; sap milky. Terminal buds surrounded by bud scales. Leaves alternate; stipules caducous, free. Leaf blade oblong, leathery, margins entire, never lobed; venation pinnate. Inflorescences globose heads. Flowers: staminate and pistillate on same plants; perianth vestigial. Staminate flowers numerous, surrounding 1-2 central pistillate flowers; stamen 1, straight; anther peltate, dehiscence circumscissile. Pistillate flowers borne inside receptacle; bracts peltate; ovary 1, inferior, 1-locular; style 2-branched. Syncarps somewhat globose; each achene embedded in enlarged, pulpy receptacle. x = 13.

Species ca. 24 (1 in the flora): neotropical.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Berg, C. C. 1972. Olmedieae, Brosimeae (Moraceae). In: Organization for Flora Neotropica. 1968+. Flora Neotropica. 65+ vols. New York. Vol. 7: 1-229.

Lower Taxon

• Brosimum alicastrum Swartz