Aroeira branca
Lithraea molleoides

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 3-8 m tall. The trunk can be 30-40 cm across. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are 3-5 leaflets or occasionally another smaller pair. The flowers are small and white and group in clusters 5-7 cm long. The fruit are small and brown and the size of a pea. Contact with the plant can cause irritations for some people.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America, Uruguay

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for drinks. Caution: The leaves release a poisonous substance. These can cause allergies.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and they germinate quickly. Seeds rem

Young plants grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Aroeira, Aroeira brava, Aroeira-de-fruto-branco, Aroeira do brejo, Aruera, Molle

Synonyms

Lithraea aroeirinha March. ex Warm.; Lithraea gilliesii Griseb.; Lithraea ternifolia (Gillies ex Hook.) F. A. Barkley; Rhus clausseniana Turcz.; Schinus brasiliensis Marchand ex Cabrera; Schinus leucocarpus Marchand; Schinus molleoides (Vell.) Engler; Schinus tenuifolius Steud.;