Japura Clidemia
Miconia heteroclita

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 70 cm to 2 m tall. The branches are hairy. The leaves are pointed. They are hairy on both surfaces. The flowers are in loose groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit are 8 mm long by 5 mm wide. They are soft skinned and hairy. They are blue.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In the Amazon it grows up to 700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Matapasto, Mullaca sapo, Mullaquilla, Papailla, Sakusaku, Tikasyeng wokuru, Tonoro wokuru

Synonyms

Clidemia heterobasis DC.; Clidemia heteroclita Naudin; Leandra heterobasis (DC.) Cogn.; Melastoma japurense Schrank et Mart.; and others