Inkberry randia, White indigoberry
Randia aculeata

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-6 m tall. The leaves are leathery and spiny. They are clustered near the tips of the branches. The leaves are simple, round and 5 cm long. The flowers are white and tube shaped. The fruit are white. They are almost black inside.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in dry and moist forests especially on limestone. It grows between 700-2,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Antilles, Asia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, USA (country/location of origin), Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They turn the tongue blue.

The fruit is not popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Box briar, Cruceto, Krans natal, Mona kata, Prickle bush, Tintero, Tintillo, Wakura, Wakuri

Synonyms

Gardenia aculeata (L.) Aiton; Gardenia randia Sw.; Gardenia randia var. mitis (L.) Sw.; Mussaenda mitis (L.) Sesse & Moc.; Mussaenda rotundifolia Sesse & Moc.; Randia aculeata var. aculeata; Randia aculeata var. chiapasina Loes; Randia guatemalensis Standl.; Randia karstenii Pol.; Randia latifolia Lam.; Randia mitis L.; Randia montana L. O. Williams; and several others