Casearia fasciculata
(Ruiz & Pavon) Sleumer
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Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department
gbif· cc-by-nc
Mendkhuu Enkhbayar : Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department
gbif· cc-by-nc
Field Museum of Natural History - Botany Department
Description
A shrub or tree. It grows up to 6-16 m high. The trunk is 4-20 cm wide. The young branches are grey and can have fine hairs. The leaves are oblong or sword shaped and 8-16 cm long. The fruit are a flattened round shape and 4-6 cm across. There are many seeds. These are 1.5-2 cm long.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour. The yellowish, globose fruit is a capsule around 25 - 28mm in diameter. It contains a number of seeds surrounded by a brownish-yellow, sweet-tasting aril. There is often only one seed inside a capsule.
Known Hazards
The fruit is a capsute containing several seeds. Although the capsule of some species (and possibly also the seeds contained therein) is somewhat toxic, the fleshy aril surrounding the seeds is a different matter and in some species (such as this one) is often eaten and is considered to be perfectly wholesome.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland and alpine forest from sea level to 1,250 cm altitude.
Where It Grows
Amazon, Andes, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, South America, Venezuela,
Cultivation
The flowers are aromatic.
Propagation
The seed of species in this genus often has a short period of viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. The seed is collected when the fruits start to open - leave them in the sun to open completely to release the seed, then rinse the seed in water to remove the arils. Sow the seed in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed, only just covering the seed, and keep moist. Germination rates vary, but can usually be expected to be low, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 30 days. When the seedlings are 3 - 5cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out a few months later. Cuttings.
Notes
There are 160-180 Casearia species. They are mostly in South America. 75 occur in tropical America. They have also been put in the plant family Flacourtiaceae.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Chichiku kaspi, Guaco, Ibiapic, Limon caspi, Naranjilla, Paigonca, Taima muyo, Tamarillo, Yawati muyu
References (6)
- Bendezu, Y. F., 2018, Arboles nativos de lad Region Ucayali. Instituto Nacional de Innovacion Agraria. p 288
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 105
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 195
- Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
- Sleumer, H. O., 1980, Flacourtiaceae. Flora Neotropica, Vol. 22, Flacourtiaceae, pp. 306
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 561
