Saraguaji
Rhamnidium elaeocarpum

Family: Rhamnaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 6-16 m high. The trunk is 15-20 cm across. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is cracked. The leaves are opposite and oval. The leaf stalk is 1-1.5 cm long. The leaves are 10-12 cm long by 4-4.5 cm wide. They taper to the tip. The veins are easy to see. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit is fleshy with a hard stone inside. They are oval. The fruit are 9-10 mm across. They are black to purple. There is 1 seed.

There are 12 Rhamnidium species. They are in tropical South America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows to 700 m altitude. It grows in the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.

Fruit are not particularly popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Azeitona, Bosta-de-cabrito, Cabriteira, Cabriteiro, Cabrito, Cafe del monte, Cafezinho, Moron, Palo cafe, Pau-brasil, Sacha cafe, Saguaraji, Sagurarji-amarelo, Sobrasil-amarelo, Taruma, Tarumai, Turere

Synonyms

Karwinskia oblongifolia Rusby;