Locust berry
Byrsonima spicata

Family: Malpighiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It usually grows 12-15 m tall. It can grow to 40 m high. The trunk is 30 cm across. The trunk is usually straight. The bark is dark grey. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaves are narrow and glossy with a pointed tip. They are slightly wavy at the edge. They are a rusty brown colour underneath. The flowers are grouped along stalks 1 cm long There are 15-40 flowers. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are round. The fruit are yellow, acid berries. They are 1-2 cm across.

There are 127 Byrsonima species. They grow in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical America. It grows in savanna forest. It needs a humus rich soils and sunny location.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antilles, Asia, Australia, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Indonesia, Jamaica, Leeward islands, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is eaten raw. The fruit are also preserved. They are acid so are used for jams and jelly. The fruit are used to flavour porridge. The fruit are crushed in water and sugar added to make a drink.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bois chardon, Crabo, Doncella, Hicha, Hilly hock, Hogberry, Indano, Locust-tree, Lontoekasi, Mariacao, Maricao, Mauriat, Murici pinima, Peralejo, Rain Nance, Sabanakwari, Shoemaker's tree, Tapal

Synonyms

Byrsonima berteroana A. Juss.; Byrsonima biacuminata Rusby; Byrsonima chrysophylla Kunth; Byrsonima coriacea var. spicata (Cav.) Nied.; Byrsonima guadalupensis G. Don; Byrsonima horneana Britton & Small; Byrsonima hostmannii Benth.; Byrsonima ophiticola Small ex Britton; Byrsonima peruviana A. Juss.; Byrsonima propinqua Benth.; Byrsonima spicata (Cav.) DC.; Byrsonima spicata (Cav.) L.C. Richard; Galphimia chrysophylla Spreng.; Malpighia guadelupensis Spreng.; Malpighia pruinosa Spreng.; Malpighia spicata Cav.;