Medlar like loreya
Bellucia mespiloides

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 10 m tall. The flowers are in clusters on old wood in the axils of fallen leaves. They are also on the trunk. The fruit is an urn shaped berry. It is up to 2 cm long by 1.8 cm wide. It is pale green to yellow. It is densely hairy. The edges of the fruit have 5 weak lobes. The pulp is edible. There are many small seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforests and secondary forests. In Venezuela it grows between 1,100-1,700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Buck varnish, Camburito, Capirote blanco, Itara, Mesproe, Mesoepoe, Mispel, Pakiyapotai, Small jiggernet

Synonyms

Bellucia mespiloides (Miq.) J. F. Bacbr.; Henriettea brunnescens Standl.; Henriettia sagotiana Naud.; Loreya brunnescens (Standl.) Gleason;