Bellucia dichotoma

Cogn.

Melastomataceae Edible: Fruit 6 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-nd

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Description

A tree. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. It grows 3-14 m tall. The trunk branches low down. The trunk can be 15-25 cm across. The fruit are round and yellow and 3 cm across. They contain many very small seeds.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The thin-skinned fruit has a fleshy pulp with a pleasant, acidic flavour. It is eaten mainly in the form of a juice. The fruit contains numerous tiny seeds that are almost imperceptible when ingested. The yellow, globose fruit is around 3cm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw, including the seeds.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist upland forests. It is best in a sunny position.

Where It Grows

Bolivia, Brazil, South America,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. They are best collected by placing the fruit in a plastic bag until the fruit decomposes and then mixing this with water and spreading the seeds in a nursery. Seedlings can be re-planted when 4-5 cm tall and then into the field when 20-30 cm tall.

Propagation

Seed - due to its small size, it is best to place the fruits in plastic bags until the pulp has partially decomposed then mix them with water to make a suspension. Water the soil in a nursery seedbed with this suspension and do not cover the seed, but make sure the soil does not dry out. A high rate of germination can be expected, with the seeds sprouting within 10 - 20 days. Pot up the seedlings into individual containers when they are 4 - 5cm tall and plant out into their permanent positions when they are 20 - 30cm tall.

Other Uses

The wood is coarse-textured, straight-grained, moderately hard but not durable. Easy to cut, but because of its small dimensions it is only suitable for items such as box making and toys. The wood is used for fuel and for making charcoal. A fast-growing tree succeeding in full sun and providing an edible fruit; it can be used in reforestation projects for restoring native woodland and also for establishing woodland gardens.