Clidemia capitellata

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1 m tall. The branches have bristles. The leaves are oval and taper to the tip. There are teeth along the edge and they are hairy above and wooly underneath. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves with flowers in heads. The flowers are crowded and hairy. They are white. The fruit are round berries and are blue.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in shady woods.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ae wae ni wae

Synonyms

Clidemia capitellata var. capitellata; Clidemia capitellata var. dependens (Pav. ex D. Don) J.F. Macbr.; Clidemia capitellata var. neglecta (D. Don) L.O. Williams; Clidemia dependens Pav. ex D. Don; Clidemia neglecta D. Don; Clidemia spicata (Aubl.) D. Don; Maieta dependens Baill.; Melastoma capitellatum Bonpl.; Melastoma capitellatum var. neglecta (D. Don) L.O. Williams; Melastoma dependens Pav. ex D. Don; Melastoma spicatum Aubl.; Staphidium confertiflorum Naudin;