Theobroma
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Theobroma is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously classified as a member of Sterculiaceae, which has been incorporated into Malvaceae to make it monophyletic. It contains 41 species[1] of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and South America.[2]
The seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), the best known species of the genus, are used for making chocolate. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), mocambo (Theobroma bicolor) and capacui (Theobroma speciosum) are also of economic importance.
Taxonomy
It was published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[3][4] The lectotype Theobroma cacao L.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". was designated in 1929.[3]
Etymology
The generic name is derived from the Greek words Script error: No such module "Lang". theos meaning "god"[5] and Script error: No such module "Lang". broma meaning "food"[6] translating to "food of the gods".[7]
Species
since November 2025[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Plants of the World Online accepts 41 species:[1]
| Image | Scientific name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| Theobroma albiflorum (Goudot) De Wild.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma angustifolium DC.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panamá | |
| Theobroma asperum (H.Karst. & Triana) K.Schum. ex C.J.J.HallScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | northern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma balaense (H.Preuss) De Wild.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| Theobroma bernoullii PittierScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Panama | |
| File:Inflorescencia axilar.jpg | Theobroma bicolor Bonpl.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – mocambo | Brazil North, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela |
| Theobroma breviligulatum (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| File:Árbol Cacao.JPG | Theobroma cacao L.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – cacao | Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana,GL Guatemala ,Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela |
| Theobroma camargoanum (R.E.Schult.) DuckeScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, and northwestern Brazil | |
| Theobroma canumanense Pires & Fróes ex Cuatrec.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Brazil | |
| Theobroma cirmolinae Cuatrec.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia | |
| Theobroma cuatrecasasianum (García-Barr.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| Theobroma dugandii (García-Barr.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| Theobroma flaviflorum Aguilar & D.Santam.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Costa Rica | |
| Theobroma gileri Cuatrec.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| File:Flor de theobroma glaucum.jpg | Theobroma glaucum H.Karst.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru |
| Theobroma globosum Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | northern Brazil (Acre and Amazonas) and Peru | |
| File:Theobroma grandiflorum, source of Cupulate Chocolate (9906147393).jpg | Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K.Schum.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – cupuaçu | Bolivia, Brazil, Guyana, and Venezuela |
| Theobroma guianense (Aubl.) J.F.Gmel.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Bolivia, northern and central Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma hylaeum Cuatrec.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Panamá | |
| Theobroma kanukuense (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Guianas and northern Brazil | |
| Theobroma kofanorum (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| Theobroma laciniifolium (Goudot ex Triana & Planch.) De Wild.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia | |
| Theobroma lemniscatum (R.H.Schomb.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | northern Brazil, northeastern Colombia, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela | |
| File:Theobroma mammosum 2310 06.jpg | Theobroma mammosum Cuatrec. & J.LeónScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Costa Rica and Nicaragua |
| Theobroma mariae (Mart.) K.Schum.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | northern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru | |
| Theobroma microcarpum Mart.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma nemorale Cuatrec.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia | |
| Theobroma nervosum Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia and Ecuador | |
| Theobroma nycterodendron (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Bolivia, northern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru | |
| Theobroma obovatum Klotzsch ex BernoulliScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Bolivia, northern Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma pulcherrimum (Goudot) De Wild.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama | |
| Theobroma purpureum PittierScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panamá, and Venezuela | |
| Theobroma schultesii Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru | |
| Theobroma simiarum Donn.Sm.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panamá | |
| Theobroma sinuosum Pav. ex HuberScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Brazil and Peru | |
| File:Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã César Favacho (2).jpg | Theobroma speciosum Willd. ex Spreng.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – cacaui | Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela |
| Theobroma sylvestre Aubl. ex Mart.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Brazil | |
| Theobroma tomentellum (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia | |
| Theobroma umbraticum (R.E.Schult.) Colli-SilvaScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia | |
| Theobroma velutinum BenoistScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname |
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Formerly placed here
- Abroma augustum (L.) L.f. (as T. augustum L.)
- Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (as T. guazuma L.)
Uses
Several species of Theobroma produce edible seeds, notably cacao, cupuaçu, and mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of cocoa and chocolate.[8]
Theobroma species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus Endoclita, including E. chalybeatus, E. damor, E. hosei and E. sericeus. The larvae of another moth, Hypercompe muzina, feed exclusively on Theobroma cacao.
An active ingredient of cacao, theobromine, is named for the genus.
References
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External links
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