Madrono
Garcinia madruno

Family: Clusiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It can grow to 10-15 m tall. It has sharply pointed leathery leaves. Leaves are 10 to 15 cm long. They are dark green on top and lighter green underneath. There are 20-40 male flowers and 5-10 female flowers in a group. Fruit are 3-5 cm long and oval. The fruit skin is yellow, and with a warty appearance and a brittle texture. The fruit flesh is white and with several (1-3) large seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid tropical lowlands. It grows naturally in the eastern Amazon in Brazil. It grows in dry forests and in sandy soils. The tree has salt tolerance. Heavy frosts can damage trees. In Colombia it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

The fruit are popular. They are sold in local markets. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds are collected from fully ripe fruit and washed and dried. Seeds need to be planted fresh in a partly shaded location. Seedlings emerge in 60-70 days.

Plants grow rapidly. Trees start producing fruit when 3 m high. Fruit need to be fully mature before harvesting.

Its other names

Local names

Achachairu, Achachairucillo, Bacuri-espino, Bacuri-verdadeiro, Bacuri, Bohiajo-sha-a, Cerillo, Cero, Charichuelo, Cozoiba, Curupita, Fruta re mono, Guayabacoa, Impiquiritoqui, Jorco, Kontaka, Machari, Madrona, Madrone rheedia, Madruno, Majoro, Ocoro, Ontomemo, Palo de cruz, Pevicho, Pungara, Punkara muyu, Punkara yura, Satro, Shiquishi, Staca cundiacium, Tahuate, Trobo, Unkara yura, Warade, Wayampinim

Synonyms

Calophyllum madruno Kunth; Chloromyron verticillatum Pers.; Rheedia acuminata (Ruiz & Pav.) Planch. & Triana; Rheedia kappleri Eyma; Rheedia madruno (Kunth) Planch. & Triana; Rheedia rostrata Vesque; Rheedia spruceana Engl.; ? Verticillaria acuminata Ruiz & Pav.; Verticillaria peruviana G. Don;