Massaranduba, Macaranduba
Manilkara subsericea

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 10-25 m tall. The branches are pale and grey. The leaves are simple and 7-10 cm long. They have fine hairs underneath. The flowers are in groups of 1-10 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are oval berries. They have 1-3 seeds. The pulp is succulent and sweet.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest near the Atlantic in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit, latex

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds can be collected from ripe fruit that are allowed to decompose partly in a plastic bag and then washed out in running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 80-100 days.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Guracica, Macaranduba-pequena, Macaranduba-vermelha, Macarandubinha, Paraju

Synonyms

Mimusops subsericea Mart.; Synarrhena subsericea (Mart.) Fisch & C.A. Mey.;