Fustic, Taiuva
Maclura tinctoria

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A spreading tree. It can be spiny. It grows 10-30 m high. The trunk is 30-35 cm across. The bark is smooth and light grey. The leaves are yellow-green and alternate. They are in double rows on the twigs. They are pointed and slightly hairy. The leaves are oval and 5-10 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. They taper to the tip. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The male flower clusters droop from the base of the leaves. The female flowers are crowded into round heads. The fruit are multiple fruit that are juicy, sweet and edible. The male flowers are in long stalks 4-6 cm long. The fruit is an irregular round shape. It is 1-1.5 cm across.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows up to 1,000 m altitude. It is common throughout Brazil. It grows in dry zones. It is often on limestone outcrops. It grows up to 100 m above sea level in Puerto Rico. In Mexico it grows to 350 m. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Antilles, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hispaniola, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for pies.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Amora-branca, Amarillo, Amoreira, Avinje, Chichiti, Dinde, Ishuk, Macano, Mora, Moradilla, Mora grande, Moral amarillo, Moro, Palo de mora, Pau-de-fogo, Sota, Taiuva, Tajuva, Tatajuba, Tata yegua, Tauba, Tsejenet

Synonyms

Broussonetia plumerii Spreng.; Broussonetia tinctoria (L.) Dum.Cours.; Broussonetia tinctoria (L.) Kunth; Broussonetia xanthoxylon (L.) Mart.; Chlorophora mollis Fernald; Chlorophora tinctoria (L.) Gaudich.; Chlorophora tinctoria (L.) Gaudich. ex Benth. & Hook.f.; Chlorophora tinctoria subsp. eutinctoria Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria subsp. zanthoxylon (L.) Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria var. acuminatissima Huber; Chlorophora tinctoria var. affinis Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria var. ovata (Bureau) Chodat; Chlorophora tinctoria var. polyneura (Miq.) Bureau; Chlorophora tinctoria var. xanthoxyla (L.) Chodat & Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria var. zanthoxylon (L.) Chodat; Chlorophora tinctoria f. glabrescens Huber; Chlorophora tinctoria f. miqueliana Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria f. ovata Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria f. polyneura (Miq.) Hassl.; Chlorophora tinctoria f. tataiiba Hassl.; Fusticus glabra Raf.; Fusticus tataiba Raf.; Fusticus tinctorius (L.) Raf.; Fusticus vera Raf.; Fusticus zanthoxylon (L.) Raf.; Maclura affinis Miq.; Maclura chlorocarpa Liebm.; Maclura plumerii (Spreng.) D.Don ex Steud.; Maclura polyneura Miq.; Maclura sempervirens Ten.; Maclura sieberi Blume; Maclura subintegerrima Miq.; Maclura tinctoria var. affinis (Miq.) Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. chlorocarpa (Liebm.) Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. ovata Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. polyneura (Miq.) Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. subcuneata Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. subintegerrima Bureau; Maclura tinctoria var. zanthoxylon (L.) Bureau; Maclura tinctoria subvar. lobata Bureau; Maclura tinctoria subvar. quercina Bureau; Maclura tinctoria subvar. sinuata Bureau; Maclura velutina Blume; Maclura zanthoxylon (L.) Endl.; Morus tinctoria L.; Morus zanthoxylon L.;