View source for Wild Cashew

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Wild Cashew 
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Anacardiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Anacardium]]''
| species = '''''A. excelsum'''''
| binomial = ''Anacardium excelsum''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}

The '''Wild Cashew''' or ''Espavé'' (''Anacardium excelsum''; [[syn.]] ''Anacardium rhinocarpus'') is a [[tree]] in the [[flowering plant]] family [[Anacardiaceae]]. The tree is common in the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds, found as far north as [[Guatemala]] and extending south into [[Ecuador]].

It is a large [[evergreen]] tree growing to 45 m tall, with a straight, rose-hued trunk reaching 3 m in diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are simple, alternate, oval-shaped, 15-30 cm long and 5-12 cm broad. The [[flower]]s are produced in a [[panicle]] up to 35 cm long, each flower small, pale green to white.  Older flowers turn pink and develop a strong clove-like fragrance.

The true fruit is a 2-3 cm long [[drupe]] shaped like a kidney.  Maturation occurs in March, April, and May.  Uncooked, the fruit is poisonous, however the nut may be roasted and eaten.

==See also==
*[[Cashew]] - the cultivated species ''Anacardium occidentale''.

[[Category:Crops originating from the Americas]]
[[Category:Flora of Panama]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]
[[Category:Sapindales]]
[[Category:Tropical agriculture]]