Barbados cherry, Acerola
Malpighia glabra
Family: Malpighiaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen tree or shrub. It grows up to 5-7 m high. It often has several trunks. The branches are spreading and often drooping. The leaves are opposite and oval to sword shaped. They are 2-8 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They can be wavy along the edge. They are dark green and glossy. The leaf stalk is short. The flowers have both sexes. The flowering stalks are short with 3-5 flowers. The flowers are 1-2 cm across. They are pinkish red. The fruit is bright red. It is 1-2 cm across and has several small seeds. The fruit resemble a common cherry. But is has 3 grooves and 3 seeds. The fruit are carried on the outside of the tree. The seeds are triangle shaped.
The fruit are rich in Vit C (when green), Vit A, iron and calcium. They can contain 50-65 x the Vit C of oranges. There are 200-300 mg per 10 g acerola or 5 times the daily requirement.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It suits the hot tropical lowlands. It grows on sandy soils and in seasonally drier regions. Rainfall during flowering and fruiting improves fruit quantity and size. They do best in a frost free site. They need a well drained soil. They can tolerate frost and drought. They do best in warm to hot climates with temperatures of 30-32°C. It can grow in arid places. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America (country/location of origin), China, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico (country/location of origin), Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, USA (Texas), Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten fresh or used in juice. They can be used for wine. They can be used in jellies, jams and preserves. The sauce or puree can be used as a topping for cakes, puddings, ice cream or sliced bananas. Caution: Acerola can produce an allergic reaction similar to that of latex.
It is grown in Puerto Rico and exported to the USA as juice or frozen fruit. It is a cultivated food plant.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
They can be grown from hardwood cuttings or budded onto seedlings. They can also be grown by ground layering. Plants can be grown from seed. Seed germinate poorly. A spacing of 3-4 m is suitable. Cross pollination is needed for good fruit production.
Trees bear in 3-4 years. They continue for 15 years. Flowering normally follows periods of rainfall. There can be several flowering and fruiting periods per year. Flowers are pollinated by insects. Fruit can ripen in 3-4 weeks. Fruits loose their flavour and nutritional value rapidly after harvest. They should be picked and eaten within a few hours. Individual trees can yield 15-30 kg of fruit per year.
Its other names
Local names
Antilles cherry, Buah acerola, Buesito, Camaroncito, Cerecilla, Ceri India barat, Cereso, Cerezo, Cerezo de Barbados, Choeri, Escobillo, Manzanita, Murta, Palo bonito, Palo de lumbre, Pohon ceri barbados, San juanillo, San ruanillo, Simeyaranelli, So'ri, Tsiriotra, Vallari, West Indian cherry, Xochototl
Synonyms
Malphigia punicifolia L.; Malpighia biflora Poir.; Malpighia dicipiens Sesse & Moc.; Malpighia glabra ssp. undulata (A. Juss.) F.K. Mey; Malpighia macrophylla Willd.; Malpighia uniflora Tussac; and others