Jenman lacunaria
Lacunaria jenmanii

Family: Ochnaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-18 m high. It loses its leaves during the year. The young branches and flowers have rusty red hairs. The crown is elongated. The trunk is erect and 20-30 cm across. The bark is thick, rough and dark grey. The leaves are in rings of 3-6. The leaves are sword shaped and taper to the base. They are 13-35 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. The flowers occur singly or in groups of 2-4 in the axils of leaves. The flowering stalks are 10-25 cm long. The fruit is a capsule with a thick outer layer and a soft sweet centre.

Also put in the family Quiinaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid upland forests in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

The fruit are delicious.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The fruit are collected from the tree and opened with a knife to remove the seeds. The pulp is allowed to decompose and the seeds washed under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh and in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 40-60 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Malba-de-mutum, Moela de mutum, Molleja de gallineta, Palo de venado, Redi-oedoe

Synonyms

Lacunaria grandiflora Ducke; Lacunaria silvatica (Pulle) A. C. Sm.; Quiina decaisneana Planch. & Triana; Quiina silvatica Pulle; Touroulia jenmanii Oliv.;