Acerola, Barbados-cherry
Malpighia emarginata

Family: Malpighiaceae

What it is like

A small tree up to 5 m tall. Branches are brittle and easily broken. The leaves are dark green and shiny. They are long and have small hairs. These hairs can irritate the skin. Flowers are on short stalks and are pink to white with five petals. Flowers are mostly on old growth. Fruit are round and cherry like. They have 3 lobes. They are usually bright red and with a thin skin. They are 1.7 cm across.

It is high in Vitamin C. Because of the high Ascorbic acid content the red colour of the fruit is reduced if fruit are stored or processed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to C and S America. It has poor cold tolerance but can withstand temperatures to near freezing. It can tolerate drought. It can grow with rainfalls around 1,200-1,600 mm per year. Roots are shallow so plants cannot withstand wind. It needs a sunny position for good fruit production. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Asia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America, St. Lucia, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, Virgin Islands, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh and especially as juice. They are also used for jellies, preserves, desserts and toppings.

It is a cultivated commercial crop in Mexico. The fruit are popular with children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown using seed, cuttings, and grafting. Seed are not always viable and cuttings are easy and improved with rooting hormone. It can be pruned to a shrub. It does best with regular irrigation if rainfall is low. It is suited to limed soils. Boron and iron deficiency can occur if not available.

Trees can fruit in 2-3 years. Trees yield well for 15-20 years and can last 40 years. Flowering can occur throughout the year but flushes occur in response to rain. Fruit develop to maturity in 25 days. There are usually 3 seeds which have fluted wings. Fruit deteriorate rapidly once removed from the tree. They can only be kept 3-4 days. Frozen fruit falls apart when thawed.

Its other names

Local names

Cereza, Ciruela de campo, Ciruela de fraile, Manzana silvestre, Manzano de campo, Shimarucu, Shimaruku, West Indian-cherry, West Indische kers

Synonyms

Malpighia glabra hort., pro parte; Malpighia berteroana Spreng.; Malpighia lancifolia (Nied.) F. K.Mey; Malpighia punicifolia auct.; Malpighia punicifolia var. obovata Nied.; Malpighia punicifolia var. vulgaris Nied.; Malpighia retusa Benth.; Malpighia umbellata Rose;