Caqui-do-cerrado
Diospyros hispida

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-7 cm high. It has a dense crown. The trunk is bent. It is 15-25 cm across. The bark is cracked. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are shiny above and hairy underneath. The veins are clearly visible. The leaves are 12-18 cm long by 7-12 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 1.5-2.5 cm long. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They do not have stalks. They are green. The fruit are a round berry 6 cm across. . They have rusty hairs when young. They become sweet and edible when ripe. They have 6-8 seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in central Brazil. It grows in scrubland and savanna.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The pulp of the ripe fruit are eaten fresh.

They have little edible pulp.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruited are harvested and allowed to soften in plastic bags so that the seeds can be easily removed. The seeds germinate in 4-6 weeks.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Bacupari-bravo, Fruta-de-boi, Fruta-de-jacu-femea, Olho-de-boi

Synonyms

Diospyros hispida var. camporum Warm.; Diospyros velutina Hiern;