Casearia prunifolia

Humboldt

Salicaceae Edible: Fruit - aril Potential hazards — see below 1 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2-6 m high. The trunk is slender. The leaves are 6-10 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The flowers are in groups of 4-6 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are round and yellow. They are 1.5-2 cm across.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour[, 1438[.The fruit is actually a globose capsule containing a number of seeds that are surrounded by a sweet tasting, edible aril.

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 (see information below on edibility to see if this is one of them) is often eaten and is considered to be perfectly wholesome.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforest between 300-1,800 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Andes, Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Peru, South America*, Suriname, Venezuela,

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

Casearia mathewsii Turczaninov

Also Known As

Iwiapik, Iwipik, Palo de conej, Palo de gallineta, Pepa de fruto, Tetacho, Wayra kaspi, Yekedemenkamo, Yekidemonkawe

References (6)

Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 107
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
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 194
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. 1-499

Show all 6 references