Wild sauari
Aciotis purpurascens

Family: Melastomataceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, South America, Trinidad, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Tiyasakoreng

Synonyms

Aciotis circaeifolia var. major Cogn.; Aciotis discolor D. Don; Aciotis discolor var. martinicensis (Naudin) Stehlé; Aciotis fragilis (DC.) Cogn.; Aciotis fragilis var. lancifolia Steud. ex Cogn.; Aciotis longifolia var. glabra Huber; Aciotis martinicensis (Naudin) Urb.; Aciotis pellucida (DC.) Pittier; Aciotis purpurascens var. alata Cogn.; Aciotis purpurascens var. longifolia Cogn.; Aciotis purpurascens var. martinicensis (Naudin) Stehlé, M. Stehlé & Quentin; Aciotis purpurascens var. pellucida (DC.) Cogn.; Aciotis purpurascens var. purpurascens; Aciotis sieberi (Steud.) Triana; Aciotis sileniflora (Bonpl.) Triana; Aciotis trinitensis Cogn.; Aciotis uliginosa (Bonpl. ex Naudin) Triana; Melastoma purpurascens Aubl.; Melastoma purpurascens var. martinensis J.F. Macbr.; Melastoma purpurea Pav. ex D. Don; Miconia purpurascens (Aubl.) DC.; Rhexia sileniflora Bonpl.; Spennera fragilis DC.; Spennera grandifolia Miq.; Spennera martinicensis Naudin; Spennera pellucida DC.; Spennera pellucida var. subcordata Crueg.; Spennera sieberi Steud.; Spennera sileniflora (Bonpl.) DC.; Spennera uliginosa Bonpl. ex Naudin;