Uarutama
Cheiloclinium cognatum

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-6 m high. It can lean over or be a creeper. The leaves are papery. They are 10-14 cm long. The flowers are in small groups in or near the axils of leaves. The flowers are very small. The fruit are like berries and have a juicy pulp. They are 3 cm long by 2.5 cm wide.

The family was formerly Hippocrateaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in most forests throughout Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Sierra Leone, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril

How it is grown

The plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Bacupari-da-mata, Cimbra pote, Cocora, Chuchuhuaso, Gaspadilloa marron, Melocontoncito, Pisimo se'tapi'pi, Saputa, Siputa, Uarutama

Synonyms

Kippistia congesta Miers; Salacia cognata (Miers) Peyr.; Salacia lineolata A.C. Sm.; Salacia sphaerocarpa Rusby; Tontelea aubletiana Miers; and others