Whitish maya
Miconia albicans

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub. It grows 2-3 m high. The leaves are opposite and 10-15 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The flowering stalk is 10-15 cm long. The flowers are white. They do not have flower stalks. The fruit is 5-6 mm across.

There are about 1,000 Miconia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It requires a minimum of 1,000 mm rainfall per year.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, South America, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bizcocherillo, Blueberry, Blu sirin, Doifie foetoe, Esmeraldo, Georgia whiteman, Lengua de vaca, Mora, Mortino, Pixirica, Shma-mu-cal, Uvilla, Wakaradan, Yax-pa-sas

Synonyms

Melastoma albicans Sw.; Melastoma holosericea var. acuminata Bonpl.; Miconia detergibilis DC.; Miconia heterochroa Miq.; Miconia renggeri Steud.;