Vasconcellea stipulata explained

Vasconcellea stipulata, known also as toronche or jigacho, is a fruit-bearing species in the Vasconcellea genus, Caricaceae family. It is native to Ecuador and Peru.

Babaco is a natural hybrid of V. stipulata and V. pubescens, although it has been suggested that other species may be involved.^[1]

Uses

It is the least commercially exploited species among those of economic importance in Ecuador. Its use is limited to domestic and small-scale cultivation, and its food uses are mainly confections and preserves.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Van Droogenbroeck B, Kyndt T, Romeijn-Peeters E, Van Thuyne W, Goetghebeur P, Romero-motochi JP, Gheysen G . Evidence of Natural Hybridization and Introgression between Vasconcellea Species (Caricaceae) from Southern Ecuador Revealed by Chloroplast, Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Markers . Annals of Botany . 97 . 5 . 793–805 . May 2006 . 16500954 . 2803430 . 10.1093/aob/mcl038 .
2. Aguirre-Rodríguez A, Duarte-Casar R, Rojas-Le-Fort M, Romero-Benavides JC . June 2024 . Food Uses, Functional Activities, and Bioactive Compounds of Three Ecuadorian Vasconcellea fruits: Bibliometric analysis and review . Journal of Agriculture and Food Research . 17 . 101244 . 10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101244 . 2666-1543 . free .