Guayapa, Joyapa chica
Macleania hirtiflora
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 4 m tall. It often has woody tubers about 1 m across. The stems are hairy. The bark cracks in long strips. The leaves are narrowly oval and 1-3 cm long by 0.8-2 cm wide. They are hairy. The fruit is a berry 15 mm across. It is blue-black.
There are about 40 Macleania species in tropical America.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows between 2,438-3,175 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andes, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw and used for jam.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Coyapa, Joyapa chica, Salapa