Batinga-preta, Araca-preto
Neomitranthes obscura

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 3-6 m high. The crown is irregular. The trunk is grooved and 15-25 cm across. The leaves are narrowly oval and taper to the tip. They are 3-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The flowers are white and in groups or 2-5 in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a flattened round berry. It is red but turns black when ripe. The flesh is yellow and there are 2-5 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on sandy soils and in humid forests along the Atlantic coast in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is juicy and sweet and is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seeds. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit by shaking the branches and collecting the fruit on canvas then the fruit are allowed to decompose and the seeds washed out under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh and preferably in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 40-60 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Calyptranthes maschalantha O. Berg.; Calyptranthes obscura DC.; Calyptranthes tuberculata O. Berg.; Chytraculia maschalantha (O. Berg.) Kuntze; Chytraculia obscura (DC.) Kuntze; Chytraculia tuberculata (O. Berg.) Kuntze; Mitranthes obscura (DC.) D Legrand; Myrciaria perforata O. Berg.;