Randia calycina

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 2-4 m tall. It has thorns about 1 cm long. The trunk is grey and branched. It is 6 cm across. The tree loses its leaves. The leaves are opposite and papery. They are oval and 6-11 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped and there is a coating on the upper surface. The male flowers are in groups of 4-6 and female flowers as 1 or 2 together. The fruit are oblong and yellow or back when ripe. There is a coffee coloured layer over the flat seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest in the Amazon. It is recorded up to 1,000 m above sea level. It grows in acid soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

Fruit have a chocolate or coffee flavour.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. Seeds germinate after 35-85 days. Plants can be put in a nursery and then transplanted. A spacing of 3-4 m is suitable.

In Brazil plants fruit June to July.

Its other names

Local names

Espino, Guaticuruzu-mirim, Limoncillo, Manzanita

Synonyms

Basanacantha calycina (Cham.) K. Schum.;