View source for Lúcuma

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Lúcuma
| image = 
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Sapotaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Pouteria]]''
| species = '''''P. lucuma'''''
| binomial = ''Pouteria lucuma''
| binomial_authority = (Ruiz & Pav.) Kuntze
}}

[[Image:Lucumalarcomuseum.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Moche Lucuma. 200 A.D. [[Larco_Museum|Larco Museum Collection.]] Lima, Peru]]
The '''lúcuma''' (''Pouteria lucuma'') is a [[subtropical]] [[fruit]] of [[Andes|Andean]] origin (sometimes known as '''lucmo''' in English), native to the dry subtropical Andean coastal valleys of [[Peru]], [[Ecuador]], and introduced in [[Chile]] ([[Quillota]] and [[Petorca]]). It grows at temperate elevations, between 1,000-2,400 metres. The largest concentration of this fruit is found in the Peruvian regions of [[Cajamarca]], [[Ancash]], [[Lima]], and [[Ayacucho]]. It has also grown well for centuries in southern Ecuador and Chile's northern coast. The fruit is very nutritious, having high levels of [[carotene]] and [[vitamin B3]]. The lúcuma is exported all around the world. In some countries it is one of the most popular ice-cream flavors.

Lúcuma is a popular flavoring for [[ice cream]] in its native range, and in Peru even exceeds the demand for more globally popular flavors such as [[strawberry]], [[chocolate]], and [[vanilla]]. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}

Lucuma has been found on ceramics at burial sites of the indigenous people of coastal Peru <ref>[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/lucmo.html]</ref>. The [[Moche]] people had a fascination with agriculture and often chose to represent fruits and vegetables, including lucuma, in their art. <ref>Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. ''The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the [[Larco_Museum|Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera]].'' New York: [[Thames and Hudson]], 1997.</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?102617 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Pouteria lucuma'']
*[http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/lucmo.html Scientific Information on the lúcuma]
*[http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Regions/Americas/programmes/TropicalFruits/qryall3.asp?intIDSpecies=1142 New World Fruits Database]
* [http://www.lucuma.com/lucumafruit.asp Lucuma the Fruit]

[[Category:Sapotaceae]]
[[Category:Peruvian cuisine]]
[[Category:Fruit]]

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