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47* Provision Tree 



Pachira 



This tree may be either small or large and is usually found 

 growing in swamps or on the banks of streams. The large 

 flowers are pink and white, the russet brown fruits are rough 

 to the touch, often a foot long and very heavy. Inside the skins 

 is a profusion of edible brown seeds imbedded in a solid white 

 pulp. The seeds, which resemble chestnuts (lower right of illus- 

 tration), may be eaten raw or cooked. They are called saba nuts 

 on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, zapoton, pumpunjuche, 

 zapote bobo, zapote de agua and apompo in Mexico and Central 

 America; and ceibon de agua y ceibon and castano silvestre in Cuba. 



