Copal (Hymenaea martiana)

Family: Fabaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Hymenaea martiana is an evergreen tree that can be found in South America. It has a dense, wide-spreading crown and short bole of up to 90 cm in diameter. It reaches a height of 18 m. It is often harvested from the wild for its high quality timber. The fruit is edible when raw. It has a white pulp. The wood is heavy to very heavy, hard to very hard, elastic, durable, and resistant to insect and termites attacks.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Fruit - raw. The white, mealy pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten. The semi-cylindrical seedpod is up to 15cm long and 6cm wide, containing 5 - 8 seeds. — The white, mealy pulp surrounding the seeds is eaten.; The semi-cylindrical seedpod is up to 15cm long and 6cm wide, containing 5 - 8 seeds.

Habitat & North American Range

Savannah, Atlantic rainforest and forests in semi-arid areas; usually in the more open and secondary growth areas; favouring moister clay soils on the floodplains. (Zone 10)