Nerved maya
Miconia nervosa

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 5 m tall. The leaves are covered with soft hairs. The leaves are greyish green underneath. The flowering groups are bright orange and at the ends of branches. The flowers are small and white. The fruit is a purple spongy berry. It is 1 cm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest. It grows on floodplains and uplands. It grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, America, Australia, Belize, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru (country/location of origin), South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bird food, Chanchak, Chinchak, Dibasta suhun, Emenguimo, Ewengimo, Guayabilla, Heintape, Hocotsemo, Kleine mispel, Matapasto, Min-charro-kola-hambi-keno-tape, Mullaca, Mullaca morada, Mullaquilla, Pishku mikuna muyu yura, Sirin, Sueh, Waraia

Synonyms

Acinodendron nervosum (Sm.) Kuntze; Clidemia spicaeformis DC.; Clidemia spicata D.Don; Melastoma nervosum Sm.; Miconia fockeana Miq.; Miconia nervosa var. mediana J.F. Macbr.; Miconia nervosa var. nervosa; Miconia septuplinervis Pittier; Tschudya spondylantha Griseb.;