Perguetamo caimito
Mouriri barinensis

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 35 m high. The trunk can be 65 cm across. The young twigs are 4 angled. The bark is grey to brown and shallowly cracked. It often scales off in irregular pieces. The leaves are leathery and shiny above and more pale underneath. They are 6-12 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves. The flower stalks have fine hairs. The flower petals are light red. The fruit is almost round and yellow to orange. They are 2-4 cm high. There are 2-4 seeds.

They have also been put in the family Memecylaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet forests between 100-300 m altitude. The rainfall is 2,000 mm and the temperature 27°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Caimito, Cascarito, Cometure, Guayabo, Paujf, Perguetamo, Perhuetamo, Tinajuito, Viguaro, Yocoro

Synonyms

Mouriri guianensis subsp. barinensis Morley;