Piranga, Apiranga
Mouriri apiranga
Family: Melastomataceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows 11 m high. The trunk is 11 cm across. The leaves are 7-20 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves or where leaves have fallen. There are 1-7 flowers on a each. The petals are light red but fall off quickly. The fruit are yellow, orange or bright red. They are sweet and edible. They are almost round and about 2 cm across. They can have 1-3 seeds.
They have also been put in the family Memecylaceae.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in mixed forests and can be in areas that are flooded. It is often on river banks and beaches.
Countries/locations it is found in
Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Apiranga, Chachirucillo, Gurguf, Gurgui, Jaboticaba-do-cerrado, Uapiranga