Marmelinho
Diospyros inconstans

Family: Ebenaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 6-9 m high. The trunk is bent and 20-40 cm across. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 4-8 cm long and 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are of one sex and in the axils of leaves. They are in groups of 2-3. The fruit is about 2-3 cm across. It is yellow but turns red. It has 3-6 seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in high latitude forest in Brazil. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

It is not very popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seed are collected from ripe fruit by crushing the fruit in running water. Seeds are only viable for 30 days. Seeds germinate in 80-100 days.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Caquizinho-do-mato, Cinzeiro, Fruta-de-jacu-do-mato, Fruta-de-jacu-macho, Granadilo, Limoncillo, Limpia diente, Maria-preta, Marmelinho-do-mato, Marmelo, Negro lora

Synonyms

Diospyros anzoateguiensis Steyerm.; Diospyros blancoi A.DC.; Diospyros conduplicata Kunth; Diospyros delgadoi Standl.; Diospyros mellinonii (Hiern) A.C.Sm.; Diospyros psidioides Kunth; Maba inconstans (Jacq.) Griseb.; Maba mellinonii Hiern; Macreightia conduplicata (Kunth) A.DC.; Macreightia inconstans (Jacq.) A.DC.; Macreightia psidioides (Kunth) A.DC.;