Theobroma

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Malvales

Familia: Malvaceae
Subfamilia: Byttnerioideae
Tribus: Theobromateae
Genus: Theobroma
Sectiones: T. sect. Andropetalum – T. sect. Glossopetalum – T. sect. Oreanthes – T. sect. Rhytidocarpus – T. sect. Telmatocarpus – T. sect. Theobroma

Species: T. angustifolium – T. bernoullii – T. bicolor – T. cacao – T. canumanense – T. cirmolinae – T. gileri – T. glaucum – T. grandiflorum – T. hylaeum – T. mammosum – T. microcarpum – T. nemorale – T. obovatum – T. simiarum – T. sinuosum – T. speciosum – T. subincanum – T. sylvestre – T. velutinum
Name

Theobroma L., Sp. Pl. 2: 782. (1753)

Type species: Theobroma cacao L., Sp. Pl. 2: 782. (1753)

Synonyms

Homotypic
Cacao Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr. ed. 4. 1754, nom. illeg.
Deltonea Peckolt
Tribroma O.F.Cook

References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 782.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Theobroma in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Dec. 19. Reference page.
Hassler, M. 2020. Theobroma. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 Dec. 19. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Theobroma. Published online. Accessed: Dec. 19 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Theobroma. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2020 DEc. 19.

Vernacular names
English: Wild Cocoas
suomi: Kaakaopuut
українська: Теоброма

Theobroma is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae, that is sometimes classified as a member of Sterculiaceae. It contains roughly 20 species of small understory trees native to the tropical forests of Central and South America. The generic name is derived from the Greek words θεός (theos), meaning "god," and βρῶμα (broma), meaning "food".[2] It translates to "food of the gods."

Theobroma cacao, the best known species of the genus, is used for making chocolate. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) and Mocambo (Theobroma bicolor) are also of some economic importance.

Selected species

Theobroma angustifolium DC.
Theobroma bicolor Humb. & Bonpl. – mocambo
Theobroma cacao L. – cacao
Theobroma canumanense Pires & Froes ex Cuatrec.
Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) K.Schum. – cupuaçu
Theobroma mammosum Cuatrec. & Léon
Theobroma microcarpum Mart.
Theobroma obovatum Klotzsch ex Bernoulli
Theobroma simiarum Donn.Sm.
Theobroma speciosum Willd. ex Spreng. – cacaui
Theobroma stipulatum Cuatrec.
Theobroma subincanum Mart.
Theobroma sylvestre Mart.[3]

Formerly placed here

Abroma augustum (L.) L.f. (as T. augustum L.)
Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. (as T. guazuma L.)
Herrania albiflora Goudot (as T. albiflorum (Goudot) De Wild.)
Herrania mariae (Mart.) Decne. ex Goudot (as T. mariae (Mart.) K. Schum.)
Herrania purpurea (Pittier) R. E. Schult. (as T. purpureum Pittier)[3]

From left to right: T. grandiflorum, T. bicolor, T. speciosum, T. cacao
Uses

Several species of Theobroma produce edible seeds, notably cacao, cupuaçu, and mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of cocoa and chocolate.

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

"Genus: Theobroma L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-06-05. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
Perseus Greek Dictionary
"GRIN Species Records of Theobroma". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-12-09.