''Theobroma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the Malva, 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 America, Central and South America. ''Theobroma cacao'', the best known species of the genus, is used for making chocolate. Theobroma grandiflorum, Cupuaçu (''Theobroma grandiflorum'') and Theobroma bicolor, Mocambo (''Theobroma bicolor'') are also of some economic importance.

Taxonomy

The generic name is derived from the Greek language, Greek words ''theos'' meaning "god" and ''broma'' meaning "food" translating to "food of the gods".

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.

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) Theobroma fruits

Uses

Several species of ''Theobroma'' produce edible seeds, notably Theobroma cacao, cacao, cupuaçu, and Theobroma bicolor, mocambo. Cacao is commercially valued as the source of Cocoa solids, cocoa and chocolate. ''Theobroma'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some moths of the genus ''Endoclita'', including ''Endoclita chalybeatus, E. chalybeatus'', ''Endoclita damor, E. damor'', ''Endoclita hosei, E. hosei'' and ''Endoclita sericeus, 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

External links

* * Theobroma, Malvaceae genera {{Byttnerioideae-stub