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Taxon:  Theobroma cacao L.



Summary
Genus:
Theobroma
Family:
Malvaceae
Subfamily:
Byttnerioideae
Tribe:
Theobromateae
Nomen number:
101885
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 2:782. 1753
Verified:
11/07/1985 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
0 (0  active, 0  available) in Australian Pastures Genebank. 
Other conspecific taxa
Theobroma cacao L. Amelonado Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Contamana Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Criollo Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Curaray Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Guiana Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Iquitos Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Maranon Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Nacional Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Nanay Group (0 active accession[s])
Theobroma cacao L. Purus Group (0 active accession[s])
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Homotypic Synonym(s)
Theobroma cacao L. subsp. sphaerocarpum (A. Chev.) Cuatrec.

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Theobroma cacao L. f. leiocarpum (Bernoulli) Ducke
Theobroma cacao L. f. pentagonum (Bernoulli) Cuatrec.
Theobroma leiocarpum Bernoulli
Theobroma pentagonum Bernoulli
Theobroma sativum (Aubl.) Lign. & Le Bey
Theobroma sphaerocarpum A. Chev.
No images


Reference(s)
  1. Aldén, B., S. Ryman & M. Hjertson. Våra kulturväxters namn - ursprung och användning. Formas, Stockholm (Handbook on Swedish cultivated and utility plants, their names and origin). 2009
  2. Argout, X. et al. 2010. The genome of Theobroma cacao. Nat. Genet. 43:101-109.
  3. Backer, C. A. & R. C. Bakhuizen van den Brink, Jr. Flora of Java. 1963-1968
  4. Bartley, B. G. D. 2005. The genetic diversity of cacao and its utilization. 341 pp.
  5. Blumenthal, M., ed. The complete German Commission E monographs: therapeutic guide to herbal medicines. 1998
  6. Cuatrecasas, J. 1964. Cacao and its allies: a taxonomic revision of the genus Theobroma. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 35:495.
  7. Dorr, L. J. 2011. Review of Malvaceae sensu lato data for World Economic Plants, ed. 2. pers. comm.
  8. Duke, J. A. et al. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs. 2002
  9. Encke, F. et al. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage. 1984
  10. Erhardt, W. et al. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen. 2008
  11. Facciola, S. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants. 1990
  12. Farnsworth, N. R. & D. D. Soejarto. Global importance of medicinal plants (unpublished draft manuscript rev. 23, 1988)
  13. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
  14. Foster, S. & V. E. Tyler. Tyler's honest herbal: a sensible guide to the use of herbs and related remedies, ed. 4. 1999
  15. Groth, D. 2005. pers. comm.
  16. IPGRI. New World Fruits Database (on-line resource).
  17. Janick, J. & J. Simon, eds. Advances in new crops. 1990
  18. Jardín Botánico Nacional. Flora de la República de Cuba. 1998-
  19. Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2. 1996
  20. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. Hortus third. 1976
  21. Macbride, J. F. et al., eds. Flora of Peru. 1936-1971; new ser. 1980-
  22. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. 2000
  23. McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. 2000
  24. McVaugh, R. Flora Novo-Galiciana. 1983-
  25. Motamayor, J. C. et al. 2002. Cacao domestication I: the origin of the cacao cultivated by the Mayas. Heredity 89:380-386.
  26. Motamayor, J. C. et al. 2002. Cacao domestication I: the origin of the cacao cultivated by the Mayas. Heredity 89:380-386.
  27. Motamayor, J. C. et al. 2008. Geographic and genetic population differentiation of the Amazonian chocolate tree (Theobroma cacao L.). PLoS One 3:e3311
  28. Motamayor, J. C. et al. 2008. Geographic and genetic population differentiation of the Amazonian chocolate tree (Theobroma cacao L.). PLoS One 3:e3311
  29. Núñez Meléndez, E. Plantas medicinales de Puerto Rico: Folklore y fundamentos científicos. 1982
  30. Peirce, A. The American Pharmaceutical Association practical guide to natural medicines. 1999
  31. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  32. Rehm, S. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants. 1994
  33. Reichel, S. 1998. pers. comm.
  34. Royen, P. van et al. Manual of the forest trees of Papua and New Guinea. 1964-1970
  35. Silva S., C. R. & A. Figueira. 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of Theobroma (Sterculiaceae) based on Kunitz-like trypsin inhibitor sequences. Pl. Syst. Evol. 250:93-104.
  36. Silva S., C. R. & A. Figueira. 2005. Phylogenetic analysis of Theobroma (Sterculiaceae) based on Kunitz-like trypsin inhibitor sequences. Pl. Syst. Evol. 250:93-104.
  37. Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. Flora of Guatemala. 1946-1976
  38. Thomas, E. et al. 2012. Present spatial diversity patterns of Theobroma cacao L. in the Neotropics reflect genetic differentiation in Pleistocene refugia followed by human-influenced dispersal. PLoS One 7(10):e47676. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0047676
  39. Vossen, H. A. M. van der & M. Wessel, eds. 2000. Stimulants. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 16:113.
  40. Westphal, E. & P. C. M. Jansen, eds. 1989. A selection. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- A:265.
  41. Whitlock, B. A. & D. A. Baum. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships of Theobroma and Herrania (Sterculiaceae) based on sequences of the nuclear gene Vicilin. Syst. Bot. 24:128-138.
  42. Whitlock, B. A. & D. A. Baum. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships of Theobroma and Herrania (Sterculiaceae) based on sequences of the nuclear gene Vicilin. Syst. Bot. 24:128-138.
  43. Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. World economic plants: a standard reference (on-line edition) [medicinal plants only].
  44. Woodson, R. E. & R. W. Schery, eds. Flora of Panama. 1943-1980
Common names
English
cacao –
cocoa –
French
cacaoyer –
German
echter Kakaobaum –
Kakaopflanze –
Portuguese (Brazil)
cacaoeiro –
cacau –
Spanish
árbol del cacao –
cacaotero –
calabacillo –
forastero –
Swedish
kakao –
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNote
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthern MexicoMexicoChiapas 
1NativeNorthern AmericaSouthern MexicoMexicoTabasco 
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazil  
1NativeSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilAmazonas 
1NativeSouthern AmericaMesoamericaBelize  
1NativeSouthern AmericaMesoamericaGuatemala  
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaFrench Guiana  
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaGuyana  
1NativeSouthern AmericaNorthern South AmericaSuriname  
1NativeSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaColombia  
1NativeSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaPeru  
1NativeSouthern AmericaWestern South AmericaPeruLoreto 
2Cultivated     
Native
Northern America
  • SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chiapas, Tabasco]
Southern America
  • BRAZIL: Brazil [Amazonas]
  • MESOAMERICA: Belize, Guatemala
  • NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname
  • WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia, Peru [Loreto]
Cultivated ()
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Food additivesflavoring Facciola, S. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants. 1990
Human foodbeverage base Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2. 1996
Human foodfruit Cuatrecasas, J. 1964. Cacao and its allies: a taxonomic revision of the genus Theobroma. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 35:515-517.
Human foodoil/fat Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2. 1996
Materialslipids Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2. 1996
Medicinesfolklore McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. 2000
Medicinessource of theobromine Farnsworth, N. R. & D. D. Soejarto. Global importance of medicinal plants (unpublished draft manuscript rev. 23, 1988)
Socialreligious/secular Vossen, H. A. M. van der & M. Wessel, eds. 2000. Stimulants. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 16:113.
Socialstimulant Vossen, H. A. M. van der & M. Wessel, eds. 2000. Stimulants. Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA). 1989- 16:113.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2025. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://apg.pir.sa.gov.au/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=101885. Accessed 22 July 2025.


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