Malagueto chico
Xylopia frutescens

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 4-8 m high. The branches grow horizontal. The trunk is 20-30 cm across. The bark is almost smooth and is smooth and has a smell. The leaves are simple and alternate. They have short leaf stalks. The leaves are narrow and pointed and are 5-12 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowers are in small groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit is a round red berry. There are 2-6 seeds inside.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in Brazil in the drier regions of the Amazon. It grows along roadsides in Panama. In Colombia it grows between 70-1,000 m above sea level. It is often in seasonally flooded areas.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are used as a substitute for pepper. The seeds are ground and eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds - spice, fruit - spice

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Ripe fruit are harvested and dried in the sun to remove the seeds. Fresh seed should be planted. Seeds germinate in 2-3 months.

Plants grow quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Coagerucu, Embira, Envira, Envir-preta, Ibira, Jejerecau, Jejerucu, Koenge, Kuyama, Pau-de-embira, Pehrekoe, Pejerecum, Pijerecu, Pindaiba-branca, Pindauba, Pindauva

Synonyms

Xylopia meridensis Pittier; Xylopia polyantha var. nicaraguensis R.E.Fr.; Xylopia setosa Poir.; Xylopicrum frutescens (Aubl.) Kuntze;