Sessile cordiera
Cordiera sessilis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A bush or large shrub. It loses many of its leaves during the year. It grows 2-4 m tall. The crown is dense and round. The trunk is short and has branches from the base. It is 15-20 cm across. The bark is wrinkled. The leaves are simple and opposite. The leaves are papery and smooth on both surfaces and shiny on the top surface. The leaves are 14-22 cm long and 4-7 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 6-12 mm long and have a groove along them. There are 6-7 pairs of side veins. Plants are separately male and female. The flowers are white and the female flowers occur singly while the male flowers are in groups of 8-15 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round berries 3-5 cm across. The pulp is fleshy and sweet. The skin is thin. There are many small seeds.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows throughout most of Brazil. It grows near streams and in soil that is clayey and fertile in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Asuka revira, Bola, Marmelada-de-cachorro, Marmelada-preta, Nigua, Puruna

Synonyms

Alibertia sessilis (Vell.) Schum.; Alibertia melloana Hook.f. illeg.; Alibertia subaurea Zahlbr.; Gardenia sessilis Vell.;