Trinidad tournefortia, Chiggery grapes
Tournefortia hirsutissima

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A climbing vine or shrub. It can be 6-10 m long. The stems are woody and 2 cm across. The bark is corky. The branches are fragile. The leaves are alternate and 12-22 cm long by 2-11 cm wide. They are oblong and papery. The upper surface is dark green and dull and underneath is pale. There are many flowers and they have a scent. The fruit are fleshy and white. They are 5-6 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Andes, Antilles, Belize, Bolivia, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru. Puerto Rico, South America, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chik, Ixla'hastapun skiti', Maquionso, Nigua, Nihuas, Ojo de pescado, Robo de mico, Sebito, Tlachichinole

Synonyms

Messerschmidtia hirsutissima (L.) Roem. & Schult.; Tournefortia alba Splitg. ex de Vriese; Tournefortia billbergiana Beurl.; Tournefortia elliptica M.Martens & Galeotti; Tournefortia schomburgkii DC.; Tournefortia tepicana M.E.Jones;