Anacardium excelsum refers to a botanical species of trees that belong to the Anacardiaceae family. Common in tropical and subtropical forests of the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds of Central and South America.
A species that, despite not being too popular outside its place of origin, is interesting to know if you are passionate about the world of botany. Therefore, we are going to tell you everything about it in this article.
Habitat and origin of Anacardium excelsum
As we said before, this species, which is also known as mountain cashew, cajú, caracolí or mijao (among other names), It is native to Central and South America, extending from Mexico to Brazil.
Due to its origin, you can already imagine that the growing areas include tropical and subtropical forests. It adapts well to fertile, well-drained soils, so It is common to see these trees near rivers and streams.
In addition, it is a very adaptive species, so it can be in very different habitats from each other. In fact, some specimens have been dated growing at sea level and others at a height of 2.000 meters above sea level in mountainous areas.
Anacardium excelsum belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, which is the same family that mangoes and pistachios are part of. Although it can be occasionally cultivated as an ornamental tree, when it does not grow wild, it is usuallye is cultivated for its fruits and seeds.
Characteristics of Anacardium excelsum
To know if you are looking at a tree of this species, pay attention to these distinctive physical characteristics:
Dimensions
Depending on the conditions to which it is exposed, it can be a medium or large sized tree. With specimens that They can reach between 20 and 40 meters in height.
In order to reach this length, it has a straight, strong and cylindrical trunk, up to three meters in diameter. Which, sometimes, can show a striking pink color. While the branches make up a wide, rounded crown.
Leaf types
In this species the leaves are simple, alternate and oval. With a long tip and a full margin. If we look closely we can see that Its green color is darker on the upper surface than on the underside.
Being a tree with very dense foliage, It plays an important role in its environment when it comes to providing shade for birds and animals.
Flowers
Anacardium excelsum usually blooms during the rainy season in its natural habitat, and the flowers usually remain open for several weeks, thus favoring its pollination by insects.
The flowers are small and white or pale yellow. They are not particularly attractive, but They are striking because they arise in terminal clusters that add beauty to the tree.
As they age, the flowers take on a pinkish color and develop a strong, persistent fragrance.
Fruits
If the flowers have been pollinated, after them the fruits appear. In the case of Anacardium excelsum, Its fruits are drupes with an oval or ellipsoidal shape.
They can measure between two and four centimeters in length. They have a hard outer shell that starts out green. and turns yellow or red as the ripening process progresses.
The pulp of the fruit of this tree is juicy and fleshy, with a texture reminiscent of a ripe pear. It is an edible fruit with a sweet and pleasant flavor. But what really The commercial value of this tree is its seed, the cashew.
An important fact to keep in mind is that the cashew cannot be consumed as it comes out of the fruit. This seed is toxic, because its shell is rich in urishiol. An oily resin that is also found in poison ivy, and that causes skin irritation and even allergic reactions.
Therefore, handling a raw cashew can cause skin irritations. Hence, they are carefully processed and then undergo a roasting process to eliminate any urushiol residue and make this nut completely safe to eat.
What care does Anacardium excelsum need?
As it is a tropical tree, getting it to grow strong and healthy depends on it being exposed to very specific conditions:
Temperature
This is a tree that grows best in warm and humid climates, which are typical of tropical and subtropical regions.
It is extremely sensitive to cold, and cannot tolerate temperatures below 10º C. If it is planted in cold areas, It is essential to protect it during the winter so that it can survive this season.
Luz
The ideal location for Anacardium excelsum is one where It receives many hours of direct light each day. This promotes the development of foliage and makes flowering and fruiting more abundant.
Irrigation conditions
It needs to receive water regularly, but not excessively. It is best that the soil is always slightly moist, so it is recommended to water when the top layer of soil appears dry to the touch.
Pruning Anacardium excelsum
Naturally, the crown of this tree is rounded. However, if it is grown for ornamental purposes or to obtain its fruits and seeds, it is advisable Prune regularly to maintain crown shape and control tree size.
In addition, it is important to prune dead or diseased branches to achieve growth that is more compact and healthy.
Propagation
This species can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. In the case of using seeds, You have to soak them in water for a few hours and then plant them in moist, warm soil.
In the case of cuttings, they must be obtained from healthy branches and placed in quality substrate., with controlled humidity and temperature conditions.
Although Anacardium excelsum is not a difficult tree to care for, due to its tropical origin it is difficult for it to reach its full beauty and production potential outside its natural habitat.