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Plants & People: The Intersection of Botany and Human Experience

Pouteria lucuma: An exploration of historical and modern medical uses of the Andean lucuma fruit

Pouteria lucuma is a fruit with an ever changing nomenclatural history. Though commonly known as lucuma, there are many regional names for this fruit. It is known as logma in the Bolívar region of Ecuador, lohma or louma in the Cotopaxi region of Ecuador, lucma or lucmo throughout Ecuador, lucumo in the Lima region of Peru, maco or rucma in Colombia, and mamón in Costa Rica (Pennington, 1990, pp. 381-385; Thulin et al., 2021). The current common name, lucuma, is a derivative of these indigenous names. First appearing in scientific literature as a genus, Lucuma fell within Icosandria Digynia according to the Linnean sexual system, as described by Juan Ignacio Molina’s “Saggio”. Since then, Lucuma has been used by multiple authors to describe a genus of Sapotaceae beyond the Andean region, including Asia, Australia, and Africa. This genus is currently synonymous with Pouteria, based on work published by T.D. Pennington (Thulin et al., 2021). The lucuma fruit, now known as Pouteria lucuma (Ruiz and Pavón) Kuntze was initially known as Lucuma bifera Molina, with other historic binomial names including Achras lucuma Ruiz and Pavón, Lucuma obovata Kunth, and Pouteria insignis Baehni (Pennington, 1990, pp. 381-385; Thulin et al., 2021).

Pouteria lucuma belongs to the family Sapotaceae within the order Ericales (Ericales, n.d.). The number of genera in the Sapotaceae family has fluctuated, from Aubréville’s historic 122 to Pennington’s current 53, all based on morphological characteristics (de Faria et al., 2017; Swenson & Anderberg, 2005). Because of Pennington's wide generic concepts, the genus Pouteria includes 304 species with pantropical distributions (Swenson & Anderberg, 2005). Phylogenetic reconstructions have demonstrated that Pouteria is polyphyletic, meaning that the type species from the New World should be placed in their own clade separate from other tropical Pouteria species (de Faria et al., 2017; Swenson & Anderberg, 2005; Thulin et al., 2021). This large genus shows homoplasy instead of synapomorphies, because of the previous reliance on morphological classifications instead of genetic analysis (de Faria et al., 2017; Swenson & Anderberg, 2005). New molecular evidence suggests that there is a strongly supported clade that includes P. lucuma that should be separated from Pouteria and reinstated under the genus Lucuma (Thulin et al., 2021).

Although the molecular phylogeny of P. lucuma specifically has not been published yet, there is morphological evidence of relation to Pouteria campechiana, a member of the former Lucuma genus, supported by geographical evidence (Pennington, 1990, pp. 381-385; Thulin et al., 2021). By looking at the phylogeny of P. campechiana, we can gain insight into P. lucuma’s evolutionary history (de Faria et al., 2017).

Lucuma grows on a subtropical fruit tree that originated in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Andes mountains (Duarte & Paull, 2015, pp. 117–123). Its current distribution is from Andean Colombian heading southward to Northern Chile, growing in wet montane and cloud forest, usually between a 1500 and 3000 m altitude, but can rarely be seen as low as 700 m (Pennington, 1990, pp. 381-385). The lucuma tree is most suited to sandy or sandy loam soils with high contents of organic matter and good drainage. It is able to moderately tolerate salinity and alkalinity, but the ideal pH is around 6.5-7.5. The tree is adapted to fairly dry conditions, but needs rainfall of about 800-1,000 mm per year to give higher yields. The ideal temperature for fruit production is between 18°C and 24°C, and the tree is killed by temperatures lower than -5°C. It is able to grow in full sunlight and flowers and fruits year-round in ideal conditions (Duarte & Paull, 2015, pp. 117–123).

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4. Goji Berries: The Key to Eternal Youth? Goji Berries have become a symbol of the Superfood movement which has continued to gain traction in the US and across the world. Although they have served as a token of this emerging trend, goji berries have been renowned in Asia for their nutritious qualities for many centuries. Its use has been documented for almost 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine (Gross et al., 2006). The goji industry has skyrocketed during the 21st century as they’ve been recognized for their nutritious qualities. Goji berries have a rich cultural history which has contributed to their claim to fame. In 2003, health writer Earl Mindell distributed a booklet which suggested that goji berries had anti-cancer properties - this drove their entry into the Superfood market. His claims were based on the myth of Li Qing Yuen; the herbalist supposedly consumed goji berries daily which allowed him to live 256 years (Earl Mindell and Rick Handel, 2003). While Mindell’s booklet was full of false exaggerations, there is merit to many of his claims regarding the nutritional benefits of goji berries. Two species are colloquially known as goji berries: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. Their unique vegetative and reproductive morphology makes harvesting the berries labor intensive. Both the goji berry and immature leaves from L. chinense and L. barbarum are eaten by many for their health benefits - while the benefits have been known for centuries, the underlying macromolecular structure that dictates these properties is only being explored in more recent decades. By Ismael Rodriguez & Catherine Nordstrom #Goji
13. Lepidium meyenii: The fertility root Maca… maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you consume it on a daily basis. Maca is the highest elevation crop known today, and is native to the high elevation Andes mountains in Peru, growing in elevations up to 4500 m high! Maca has been a highly valued commodity for many indigenous peoples within the Andes mountains of Peru throughout history and persists to be valued today. Known for its turnip-like shape due to its bulbous hypocotyl, it is highly sought after for its roots. Consuming the roots will result in many notable benefits, such as nutritional benefits, mood improvements, and enhancements in energy, strength… even fertility, all which are backed by numerous studies. These benefits are all due to the numerous nutrients, fibers, bioactive compounds, and natural compounds lepidiline A and B that are contained within Maca. Combined, they all make Maca the nutritional powerhouse that is today. Once this nutritional powerhouse was advertised to the world, it became an immediate hit. The demand for Maca created a market boom and countries started trying to cultivate the plant to meet the demand. One country that cultivated Maca is China. In the high mountains of Yunnan, Maca was successfully cultivated and thus became a common ingredient in Chinese traditional medicine. As such, Maca remains an important dietary source not only in Peru, but as well as worldwide! With more research being done today to further explore what components are in Maca, only time will tell what additional health benefits Maca has to offer us.
18. Moringa oleifera: Domestication Histories and Emerging Deviations from Indian Origin The superfood, Moringa oleifera, has a rich history deeply rooted in its native Indian domestication and usage. Also widely known as “The Miracle Tree”, M. oleifera is often recognized by its white flowers and long-seed pods that are greatly sought after. Not only does M. oleifera provide an incomparable food source and multipurpose oil through its pods, but all parts of the plant may be used and consumed. The versatility of this plant is venerated in Indian culture where its consumption and, most importantly, medicinal usage involve all parts of the plant. Due to its spread across other countries, the species and its utilization have evolved to suit individual cultures and their own domestication desires. In the Philippines and North and South Africa, its nutritional value is greatly relied upon to treat malnourishment, purify water, and support community infrastructure while the Indian native medicinal usage is less emphasized and not well known. The Americas, on the other hand, have increasingly toyed with the novel M. oleifera ‘organic-superfood’ craze that tends to remove emphasis from its cultural value and multipurpose utilization to instead fawn over its supposed energy boosts, skin care implementations, and uses in its powder – likely less effective and increasingly more expensive than the original. Though its original purpose grows increasingly colonized, the domestication ventures globally of this superfood continue the legacy of the Moringa oleifera species itself – marked genetic increases in energy production associated with plastic to nucleus gene duplications. As each nation tends to and selects for various aspects of this energy contribution – whether for the nutritional, medicinal, or vanity value – the variation in these M. oleifera may grow towards eventual speciation. George Vetushko and Lauren Guevara #drumsticktree
20. Salvia hispanica: A Source of Strength Traditionally a key component in Aztec and Mexican culture, chia seeds have been used for centuries for their nutritional, decorative, and medicinal qualities. A common staple in many cultures around the world, these tiny seeds pack a powerful punch and are enjoyed by fitness enthusiasts everywhere. While the seeds themselves are easily recognizable, less well known is their source: a plant known as Salvia hispanica. This flowering, annual herb has a fascinating history and distinctive morphological traits that have evolved over time due to human cultivation. By exploring the myriad ways that this plant has interacted with people over the course of history, we can gain a greater appreciation of how chia seeds have been an important source of strength and inspiration for many. By Joshua Matsuda, Sarah Hoffman, Julia Lindner #Chia
21. Breadfruit: The Intrepid Fruit's Journey with Indigenous Peoples and Colonization Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) is an intrepid dicot with a rich history and culture surrounding it. A. altilis originated from the South Pacific and was later spread throughout Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia by voyagers. Later on, breadfruit’s ease of maintenance and nutritional value made it a prime crop, in the eyes of colonizers, to feed African slaves in the Caribbean. Today, breadfruit continues to have an important role in sustainability, fighting malnutrition, and increasing food security.
24. Açaí Berry: The Exploitation of Labor in South America The açaí berry is a small fruit, similar in size to a blueberry but deeper purple in color. Native to Eastern Amazonia, the açaí berry has only recently begun to be popularized as a “superfood” in urban communities in the United States within the past 20 years. This superfood claims to be helpful for a variety of major health concerns including, but not limited to, arthritis, weight loss, high cholesterol, and detoxification (NCCIH). Even though research is limited and these claims remain unproven, the popularity of açaí berries still manages to grow exponentially each year. The global market for the açaí berry is expected to exceed $2 billion by 2026 (McCoy). The only proven claim than can be made about the açaí berry is that its rise in popularity only serves to threaten the lives of families, both adults and children, that are living in the surrounding communities in the Amazon who are responsible for harvesting the berries and are, in turn, routinely exploited for cheap, quick labor. More often than not, these açaí pickers, known as peconheiros, are forced to work in critically dangerous conditions and are paid little to nothing. Peconheiros are regularly exposed to serious injuries including bone fractures, accidental knife wounds, and venomous snake and spider bites. With the açaí trees growing upwards of 50 feet tall and only a braided rope being provided to climb, falls are common– and sometimes fatal. Further, peconheiros have no way of advocating for themselves in the event that they do become injured in the forest. No laws or regulations exist that protect the safety and wellness of the peconheiros. by Roberto Vindel, Pauline Le, and Max Kwon #Açaí

Pouteria lucuma: An exploration of historical and modern medical uses of the Andean lucuma fruit

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