Clidemia petiolaris

(Schltdl. & Cham.) Schltdl ex Triana

Melastomataceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves

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Description

A slender shrub. It grows about 1 m tall. The leaves are oval and taper to the tip. They have rounded teeth. The leaves are 10 cm long by 5 cm wide. The fruit are dark purple to black.

Edible Uses

Both the fruit and leaves are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows near sea level often in secondary growth and wet thickets.

Where It Grows

Central America, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Synonyms

Clidemia deppeana Steud.Clidemia laxiflora var. longipetiolata Cogn.Clidemia naudiniana Cogn.Clidemia serrulata (Schltdl.) TrianaMelastoma petiolare Schltdl. & Cham.Melastoma serrulatum Schltdl.Staphidium petiolare (Schltdl. & Cham.) Naudin

Also Known As

Capulin cenizo, Tzotzzit tzazmuttez

References (3)

Don, G., A General History of the Dichlamydeus Plants: Calyciflorae
Fern, K., 2012, Tropical Species Database http://theferns.info/tropical/
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 244