Hancornia speciosa
Gomez
Mangaba
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Summary
Source: WikipediaA deciduous tree reaching 7m tall and 5m wide at a slow growth rate, hardy to UK zone 10. Grows best in light sandy or medium loamy, well-drained soils and tolerates poor soil nutrition. Adapts to mildly acidic, neutral, and basic soil pH. Requires full sun and prefers moist conditions but can tolerate drought once established.
Description
A medium sized tree. It grows 6-8 m high. It can be 15 m high. The trunk is twisted and 30 cm across. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 3.5-10 cm long by 1.5-5 cm wide. The fruit is medium sized and red with a thin skin. It is 2.5-6 cm long. It has sweet flesh and one or more seeds. The seed are 1 cm across. The plant is variable and 6 varieties have been described.
Edible Uses
The fruit is edible raw or cooked, but must be fully ripe and soft — ideally fallen to the ground — to be free of latex and bitterness. At this stage the pulp is delicious, succulent, viscous, sweet, and aromatic, with a pleasant subacid flavour. The fruit measures 3–6 cm in diameter and can also be made into juice, sherbet, or preserves. It is particularly prized as a marmalade in parts of Brazil.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit is eaten fresh. They are also made into juice, preserves, drinks, pudding and wine. It is made into marmalade and ice cream
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The plant is considered an excellent remedy for bilious complaints.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It grows in scrubland in central Brazil. It grows naturally in regions with average temperatures between 24-26°C. The rainfall is 1,400 mm per year. It can grow in the temperature range of 15-43°C. It grows in sandy soils.
Where It Grows
Amazon, Andes, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil*, Malaysia, Paraguay, Peru, SE Asia, South America*, Venezuela,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed. The seeds from ripe fruit are removed and dried in the shade then planted. Seeds are slow to germinate and only a few grow. It is best to use fresh seeds.
Propagation
Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds extracted from ripe fruit should be dried in the shade before planting. Sow seed as soon as it is ripe, preferably in individual containers since the seedlings do not transplant well. Germination rates are typically low, germination can be slow, and seedlings also tend to establish slowly once sprouted.
Other Uses
The tree produces mangabeira rubber, which is of good quality and has historically been exported from parts of Brazil. The wood is light, spongy, soft, and easy to work but has little durability even when protected from the weather, limiting its use to making boxes and as fuel. It has also been identified as an industrial hydrocarbon crop in carbon farming contexts.
Production
Plants grow slowly. Fruit are best when harvested from the ground. Plants fruit 5-6 years after planting. Fruit ripen after 112 days.
Other Information
The fruit are sold in local markets. They are tasty.
Notes
There is only one Hancornia species. It has antioxidant activity.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 84.9 | 252 | 60 | 0.9 | — | 130 | 0.9 | 0.6 |
| Fruit | 90.8 | — | — | — | — | 190 | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Magaba, Mangabeira, Mangabinha do norte, Mangava, Mangaba-da-restinga, Manguba, Xaba motoha
References (37)
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