Wild coffee
Amaioua corymbosa

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 12 m tall. The trunk is highly fluted. It can be 30-40 cm across. The bark is red or brown and peels off in strips. The leaves are opposite and rounded in shape. They have prominent yellow veins underneath. Plants are separately male and female. The flowers are white and tube shaped. The fruit is an egg-shaped berry 1.3 cm long.

It was probably used for some purpose amongst Maya.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It often grows in secondary forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, South America, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

The fruit are appreciated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Trees only fruit once every five years.

Its other names

Local names

Madrono, Wayu, Wa-yung

Synonyms

Amaioua fagifolia Desf.; Amaioua peruviana Desf.; Hexactina corymbosa (Kunth) Willd. ex Schult.f.;