Falsefig mouriri
Mouriri ficoides
Family: Melastomataceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 35 m high. The trunk is 45 cm across. The leaves are dark green above and yellowish-green underneath. The leaves are 11-29 cm long by 6-11 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowering stalks are on the trunk and main branches. There can be 1-18 flowers on a stalk. The petals are white or yellow. The fruit are yellow. They are round or slightly oval. They are 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are edible. There are 2-5 seeds.
They have also been put in the family Memecylaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in primary forest above the flood level. It grows up to 130 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, South America, Venezuela
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for juice.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Dereillo yokoro, Muriri, Pau ripa, Tinajuito