Sul-sul, Marmelada
Alibertia edulis

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A small, erect tree. It grows 3-5 m tall. The leaves are shiny green and like avocado leaves. They are papery and 8-25 cm long. Plants are separately male and female. The female flowers are white and occur singly at the end of the branches. Male flowers are in round heads. The fruit is green and similar in size and shape to a pomegranate. They are 2-4 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. Its pulp is black. It is 7-8 cm across. The pulp is fleshy and sweet. There are many angular, flattened seeds. These are 0.5 cm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the hot tropical lowlands. It grows in open places in the Amazon in Brazil. It is common along creeks. In Central America it grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude. It grows in the dry zone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru (country/location of origin), South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh or used to make jellies and sweets. They are used in drinks. The roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute.

It is occasionally cultivated as a fruit tree. The fruit are enjoyed.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - coffee

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. To collect seeds the ripe fruit are harvested and allowed to partly decompose in plastic bags then the seeds are washed out under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 50-60 days.

Plants grow rapidly. Fruit occur during the dry season. A fruit can weigh 40 g.

Its other names

Local names

Albondiga, Amanina, Apurui, Arapuru, Bola, Caimitillo, Carahuasca, Castarrica blanca, Chintorolo, Conservillo, Guayabilla, Guayabillo, Guayabito de monte, Huitillo, Jenipapinho, Lagartillo, Lirio, Madrono, Marmelada de bola, Marmelada-de-bexero, Mermelada, Marmelao, Pera, Perequetano, Perita, Pitajoni, Purui-pequeno, Purui, Roi kra ti, Sacha huito, Torolo, Tosa, Trompillo, Trompo, Tun-tun, Tutumilla, Zumbo

Synonyms

Cordiera edulis (Rich.) Kuntze; Garapatica edulis H. Karst.; Gardenia edulis (Rich.) Poir.; Genipa edulis Rich.; Sabicea edulis (Rich.) Seem ex B. D. Jacks;