Jacoticana costada
Plinia phitrantha

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It loses many leaves during the year. It grows 4-7 m tall. The leaves are papery and 4-14 cm long. There are hairs underneath the leaf. The flowers are heaped in clusters along the trunk and old leafless branches. They have scale like bracts. The fruit are round and ribbed. They are dark red and have a smooth pulp.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in humid lower mountain forests in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for jellies.

The tree is grown in home gardens.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit that have been allowed to partly decompose in plastic bags and removed from the pulp under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 40-50 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Jaboticaba branca-vinho

Synonyms

Eugenia phitrantha Kiaersk.; Myrciaria aureana Mattos; Myrciaria phitrantha (Kiaersk.) Mattos; Plinia aureana (Mattos) Mattos;