American hirtella
Hirtella americana

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. The twigs are covered with red hairs. The leaves are simple and alternate. They have soft red hairs underneath. The flowers are large and pink or white in long spikes. The fruit are the size of cherries.

There are about 100 Hirtella species. They are almost all in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, South America, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit and the seeds are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Aceituni, Aceituno manco, Barazon, Camaroncillo, Carita de negro, Cenizo, Garrapato, Guaviluna, Icaco de aura, Icaco peludo, Pasito, Yaya

Synonyms

Chrysobalanus americanus (L.) Morales; Chrysobalanus mollicoma (Kunth) M. Gomez.; Hirtella mollicoma Kunth; Hirtella mollissima Hemsl.;