Bacu Pari, Bacupari
Tontelea micrantha

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

It is an erect woody shrub. It loses some of its leaves during the year. It grows 1-2 m tall. The leaves are leathery and the edges are entire. The leaves are 8-10 cm long. The flowers are small and creamy-white. They are in groups on stalks in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and turn yellow when ripe. They have 1-3 seeds. There is a slimy pulp around the seeds. This is sweet and edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the scrublands and savannas throughout Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Because it is hard to separate the pulp from the seeds they are not popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bacupari-do-cerrado, Capicuru-acu, Siputa-do-cerrado

Synonyms

Anthodus micranthus Mart.; Salacia micrantha G. Don.; Salacia velutina Cambess.; Tontelea corruga-lata Miers; Prionostemma velutinum (Cambess.) Miers;