Stats

Lifespan

25-100 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Tropical rainforest

Range

Central and South America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Uncommon

About

The cacao tree produces large, ribbed pods directly from its trunk and branches — a rare trait called cauliflory — and every bar of chocolate begins with its seeds. Its genus name, Theobroma, means 'food of the gods' in Greek.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Malvales

Family

Malvaceae

Genus

Theobroma

Species

Theobroma cacao