Taruma
Vitex montevidensis

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-20 m high. The trunk is 40-60 cm across. The leaves have long leaf stalks. The leaves are compound and have 3-7 leaflets. They are 5-9 cm long. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. They are bluish. The fruit is round and shiny purple.

Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the Parana River basin in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

It is not a popular fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and seived in running water and dried in the sun. Seeds germinate in 40-60 days. Seedlings can be tranplanted into the field in 7 months.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Azeitona-brava, Azeitona-da-terra, Azeitona-do-mata, Sombra-de-touro, Tapinho, Taruma-azeitona, Taruma-de-montevideu, Taruma-do-mato, Taruma-preta, Taruma-roma

Synonyms

Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke; Bignonia megapotamica Spreng.; Vitex taruma Mart.;