Brosimum alicastrum (Moraceae): Uses and Potential in Mexico! (CHARLES M. PETERS? AND ENRIQUE PARDO-TEIEDA* Brosimum alicastrum is a large, evergreen tropical tree which is widely dis- tributed in Mexico. Its protein-rich seeds and leaves may be used for food and forage, and several medicines and beverages can be made from parts ofthe tree: Although an important alternative food in pre-Columbian times, the current use of the tree is very limited. Recent studies indicate that its increased use would be extremely beneficial, and that the most immediate means for accomplishing this are the collection and processing of seeds from natural jorests and the es- tablishment of plantations for forage Because of population growth and the constant threat of food shortages in tropical regions, there has been renewed interest in indigenous plants as sources of food and forage. Brosimum alicastrum Sw., a widely distributed neotropical tree which can be used in a variety of ways, appears to be one of the most ing of these plant resources. Several years ago the U.S. National Academy ‘ences (1975) included this species in its survey of tropical plants with eco- nomic potential, but since this time little has been written about its many uses or its potential for increased utilization. In response to this paucity of information, the results of a 4-yr study of Bro- simum alicastrum in Mexico are reported here. A catalogue of its past and present uses compiled from field surveys and a review of the existing literature are pre- sented, and the current efforts in Mexico to increase its utilization are discussed. Because of the general lack of familiarity with this species, a brief description of its distribution, morphology and common names will be given first. GENERAL DESCRIPTION Brosimum alicastrum (Moraceae) is a major component of the evergreen and semievergreen tropical forests of southern Mexico, growing on both the Pacific and Gulf Coasts at elevations of 50-800 m above sea level (Pennington and Sa- rukhan, 1968; Sosa et al., 1975; Rzedowski, 1978). The species is very adaptable and can also thrive in humid sites in more arid regions (Gentry, 1946). It grows in the forests of more than one-third of Mexico’s states and is one of the most dominant and widely distributed trees in the country (Fig. 1). Nearly pure stands of B. alicastrum occur on the steep slopes and calcareous soils of the extreme northeastern part ofits range (Rzedowski, 1963; Gémez-Pompa, 1973), but owing to its extensive pre-Hispanic use, it is unknown whether these forests are natural or have resulted from ancient land-use practices. In nature this large, evergreen tree may attain a height of 40 m and a diameter * Received 9 January 198; accepted 4 July 1981 * School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale Univesity, New Haven, CT 06511 ‘Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Bsticos, Apartado Posal 63, Xalapa, Ve- cruz, México. Economic Botany, 362), 1982, pp. 165-175 (© 1982, by the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY 10488v9 PETERS AND PARDO-TEIEDA: BRosmMUE 30° 25 20" 1s" 15° 10 19 19 90° Fig. 1. Geographical distribution of Brosimur licastrum in México (adapted from Pennington and Sarukhen, 1968; Berg, 1972; Rzedowski, 1978) ‘of more than a meter (Pennington and Sarukhan, 1968). The lower trunk is fluted with prominent buttresses, and upon injury, a yellowish-white latex is exuded (Fig. 2a). Fruits are produced only once a year, flowers generally appearing be- ‘tween November and February, and fruitfall commencing between March and June (Pardo-Tejeda and Sinchez-Mufoz, 1980). The yellow to red-orange fruit is 1-2 cm in diameter and contains only one seed (Fig. 3). Estimates of fruit yield range from 50-75 kpiree (Martinez, 1936; Gonzalez, 1939; Puleston, 1968), but it is important to note that natural populations in Mexico are dioecious (Berg, 1972; Peters, unpubl.); therefore not all trees bear fruit. In Mexico, B. alicastrum is known by more than 50 common names, of which raniin (from the Spanish verb ramonear meaning to browse or forage), ajite, ‘ojocke and capomo are the most common (Pardo-Tejeda and Sanchez-Munoz, 1980). Its Maya name, ox, originally given to stocks of shelled maize kernels (Cook, 1935), gives some indication of the ancient cultural importance of this, tree. uses Food That B. alicastrum is especially abundant near Maya ruins has long been known to archeologists and anthropologists (Thompson, 1980; Lundell, 1938; Rupert andwot.154 PETERS AND PARDO-TEIEDA: AROSIMU ry Denison, 1943), but until recently, the significance of this association was not realized. Studies by Puleston (1968, 1972) near the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala have revealed that not only was the tree widely used by the Maya, it may also have been deliberately cultivated. According to these studies, the seeds of B. alicastrum were an important alternative food when the yield of the usual crops was low. Traditionally, fruits were collected and either eaten raw or made into juice or marmalades (Roys, 1931). The seeds were then dried, ground into a ‘masa, and mixed with corn to make sortllas. In many instances, seeds were boiled, mashed and eaten as a substitute for root crops (Thompson, 1930). A. dessert was also made by combining the ground seeds with honey. ‘The seeds of B. alicastrum are utilized in a similar manner today, but only rarely. The tree is frequently found in household gardens in rural areas (especially in Yucatan), but the fruits and seeds are not commonly collected for consumption by families living near dense stands. It appears that the seeds are currently more speciality item than a subsistence food. The ready availability and low price of government-subsidized maize may be partially responsible for the limited use, but in many regions there also appears to be a sociological stigma associated with consumption of its seeds, ‘Chemical analyses indicate that the seeds are extremely nutritious (Tables 1, 2). ‘Their crude protein content compares favorably to wheat and is higher than corn. In terms of protein quality, tryptophan concentration of the seeds is 4 times ‘greater than that of corn, an important difference because Latin American diets based mainly upon corn are usually deficient in this amino acid Forage Soon after the introduction of livestock into Mexico, it was discovered that B. alicasirum is a very good forage. Currently, this is the most widespread use of the tree. Wherever itis abundant the leaves, twigs and seeds are a highly valued stock feed. This is especially true in the more arid parts of its range where its evergreen leaves may furnish the only fresh forage available during the dry sea- Forage is harvested by climbing the tree and lopping the branches. Between 25-50% of the crown is cut each year, but the repeated pruning does not appear to injure the tree seriously. Where dense stands occur, climbing is not necessary and cattle are allowed to graze freely on the seedlings, newly fallen leaves, and seeds. An interesting description of the harvesting of B. alicastrum forage by ramoneros is given by Fairchild (1945). Brosimum alicastrum is a nutritious stock feed. The leaves contain an average of 10% crude protein on a dry weight basis (Fortum, 1911; Pérez-Toro, 1950), land recent studies have shown that their digestibility is superior to that of the more widely utilized Lewcaena leucocephala (Lam.) DeWit and buffelgrass (Cen- Fig. 2. a. Lower trink of young Brosinum alicasrum showing buttress formation and latex (orto de in Mancha, Veracrur).b.9¢-old plantation ofB.alicasrum located atthe Secretaria de ‘Agricultura y Recursos Hiriulicos (SARH) nursery, Musi, Yucatan, The toes are coppiced ies 1 year for forage0 ECONOMIC BOTANY wou. 36 3. Brosinum alicostum. a. Shoot with mature and developing fruits, b. Seed coveted hy papery testa approximately 1%) chrus ciliaris 1.) (Yerena et al., 1978). Feeding trials using various mixtures of the seeds with sorghum resulted in excellent weight gains in cattle, sheep, hogs and goats (Pardo-Tejeda and Sanchez-Mulioz, 1980). As an additional benefit, B. a ‘castrum forage has been reported to increase milk production in dairy cattle by 1-2 literday (Gonzalez, 1939; Calvino, 1952),19 PETERS AND PARDO-TEIEDA: aRosiMUMe rn ‘TanLe 1. NUTRITIVE VALUE OF Brosinum alicastrum SEEDS (PER 100 6 OF OVEN-DRY SAMPLES) een = Calories 361.0 HO 40-50% Ash 32% Crude bor 46% Crude proven nee Calcium 180mg Phosphorus 20me leon 38mg Vitain A Omg Thiamine Ome Ribofavin Omg Niacin Lome Vitamin © psme Wood products Although the wood of B. alicastrum is soft compared to many other tropical hardwoods, it is easily worked and is used extensively in the manufacture of inexpensive furniture, beehives, packing crates and tool handles. It is moderately resistant to insect and fungal attack, but must be treated with preservatives prior to use in outdoor construction (Record and Hess, 1947). In many parts of Mexico it substitutes for maple (Acer spp) imported from the United States (Echenique- Manrique, 1970). The wood is also used for fuel by many rural Mexicans, Medicines ‘The fruits, leaves, latex and bark of B. alicastrum are all used pharmaceutically in various parts of Mexico, An extract of the fruits is ‘*an admirable lactogen ‘which stimulates the production of milk in humans and livestock” (Martinez, 1936), and preparations of this type are currently sold in Yucatan and Jalisco. Leaf infusions are employed as cough suppressants and in the treatment of kidney ailments, and the diluted latex is used to aid the extraction of teeth. A tonic made from the bark is also used to treat chest pains and asthma. Beverages Several heverages can be made from various parts of the tree. The roasted seeds have a unique nutty-cacao flavor, and a beverage similar to coffee is pre- pared by grinding the roasted seeds and steeping them in boiling water. The ‘around seeds can also be added to cold milk along with sugar to prepare a nu- tritious milk shake. It frequently has been reported that the cream-like latex can be mixed with water and used as a satisfactory milk substitute (Gaumer, 1918; Standley and Steyermark, 1946). This practice, however, was never observed in ‘our surveys, and efforts to collect the latex have revealed that its drop-by-dropme [ECONOMIC ROTANY. wou. ¥ TABLE 2. AMINO ACID CONTENT OF Brosimum alicastrum seEDs.* coor) 7 “Leucine os Valine 97 Isoleucine 33 Phenylalanine 40 Lysine 23 Threonine 2a Tryptophan ca Histidine Lo Methionine 07 ‘Arginine sd ‘Aspartic aid 83 Proline 69 99 Glycine 23 Tyrosine 37 Alanine 2s flow from the tree is so slow (10 mVh) that its use as a beverage is highly questionable. Additional uses Because B. alicastrum isan evergreen tree with beautiful symmetry, itis widely planted, as an ornamental. It is used in southern Veracruz as a living fence and in several areas as a shade tree in coffee plantations POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT ‘The many useful properties of B. alicastrum have long been known, but only recently have attempts been made to increase its use in Mexico, These efforts hhave emphasized its use for food and forage, and 2 different strategies are cur- rently being pursued: i) increased use of natural forests and ii) the establishment of plantations. Utilization of natural forests The most immediate method of exploiting B. alicastrum is to develop organized systems for collecting, processing and distributing the seeds from natural forests, Based on a rough estimate of its distribution in Veracruz alone, it is calculated that 80,000 m t of dry seed could potentially be collected every year resulting in an annual production of approximately 10,000 m t of crude protein (Pardo-Tejeda and Sinchez-Muioz, 1980) that could be used either for human consumption or for livestock feed. Pilot seed-collecting projects conducted in Veracruz by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Bisticos (INIREB) have revealed that the only factor limiting more intensive utilization of natural forests of B. alicastrum is the19) PETERS AND PARDO-TEJEDA: AROSIMU lack of a well-developed market. Because the market value of the processed seeds is extremely low, the price that can be paid for the fresh seeds is not sufficient to encourage extensive collections by rural people. It was also discovered in these studies that after collection and prior to storage, the seeds must be dried thoroughly to prevent fungal attack. Seeds stored when fresh are infested by several species of Aspergillus, some of which contain toxic compounds (Pardo- Tejeda, unpubl.). Coffee driers were used experimentally for this purpose in the Veracruz project because these facilities are usually idle during the peak fruiting period of B. alicastrum. Although several problems remain, there are numerous benefits to this system of exploitation. From an ecological standpoint, it encourages preservation of forested areas which protect the soil, regulate water quality, furnish wildlife hab- itat and act as buffers to disease and pests between cultivated fields. Commer- cialization of seed collection would also increase the amount of quality protein available and greatly stimulate economic development of rural areas by creating another cash crop. Ironically, the major problem hindering this development is, the accelerating destruction of tropical forests for pasture. Plantation management As the Mexican cattle industry expands, the use of B. alicastrum forage is expected to increase significantly. For this reason, several studies are exami the intensive cultivation of forage in plantations. Two plantations are already in production in Yucatén, and a third recently has been established in central Ve- racruz. A 4-yr-old planting at the Secretaria de Agricultura y Recursos Hidriu- licos (SARH) nursery at Mulsai, Yucatan, is shown in Fig. 2. The advantage of this form of management is that the trees can be maintained as small hedges by frequent coppicing, thereby greatly facilitating forage collection. ‘The Yucatan plantations are producing 10-15 m ha of forage at each lopping, and it is predicted that 3 cuttings a year can be made when the trees increase in size (SARH, personal communication). Based on productivity estimates for pas- tures in Veracruz (SARH, 1979), these young plantations are already producing twice as much forage as established pastures. In other words, it would require approximately 2 ha of pasture to produce the forage obtained from a I ha plan- tation of B. alicastrum. An additional advantage is that forage from the plantation is available throughout the year. These preliminary results indicate the great potential of forage plantations for increasing livestock production and slowing the destruction of tropical forests. Plantations could be established in presently unproductive pastures, thereby inating the need of further clearing the forest. Conveniently located forage would, then be available. The only limitation to extensive production of forage in this manner is its acceptance by Mexican ranchers. CONCLUSIONS Its wide distribution and variety of uses indicate that Brosimum alicastrum is fan extremely valuable natural resource with great potential for further develop- ment, In addition, investigations being conducted in Mexico illustrate that several methods are currently available for increasing its utilization, However, thesemm [ECONOMIC HOTANY WoL. % studies have revealed that most limitations to development are not biological, but economic and sociological. Clearly, high-yielding varieties must be identified for plantations, management practices such as harvest schedules and planting den- sities must be perfected, and technology for efficient seed processing must be developed. But immediate efforts should be directed toward market development and promotion. This, and not management problems, has hindered both the col- lection of seeds and extensive cultivation for forage in plantations, Brosimum alicastrum has been used for over 2,000 yr, but only recently has its potential for ceasing the problems of diminishing food and forage been appreciated. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper is the result of studies conducted by the Programa Desarrollo Tec~ niol6gico of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones sobre Recursos Biéticos (INIREB), and the support of the staff and personnel of this Program is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also wish to thank the numerous local people who so generously provided information on the past and present uses of the tree. LITERATURE CITED. ABL. 1976. Analytical Biochemistry Laboratory, Inc. Columbia, Missouri. Unpublished laboratory resus. Berg, C: C, 1972. Flora Neotrépcs: Brosimeae. Monograph 7 161-208. 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