Pourouma cecropiifolia

Pourouma cecropiifolia (Amazon grape, Amazon tree-grape or uvilla; syn. P. multifida) is a species of Pourouma, native to tropical South America, in the western Amazon Basin in northern Bolivia, western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and southern Venezuela. It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 20 m tall. The leaves are palmately compound, with 9–11 leaflets 10–20 cm long and 2.5–4 cm broad, on a 20 cm petiole. The flowers are white, produced 20 or more together in a 10 cm long inflorescence; it is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruit is ovoid, 1–2 cm long, purple when ripe, grape-like in appearance but with a wintergreen smell and a root beer flavour; the skin is rough, inedible but easily peeled.

Description

A medium size tree 8-18 m high. The leaves are 25 cm long and grow in large clusters. The leaves are velvety and blue-grey underneath. Male and female flowers are on separate trees. The fruit form in clusters of 25 or more. The fruit are round and purple. They are 2-5 cm across. They have a white, juicy pulp. The ripe fruit smell like wintergreen mint.

Edible Uses

The purple, grape-like fruits, produced in clusters and up to 4cm in diameter, have a large seed and a sweet, juicy white pulp with a grape-like flavour. They can be eaten raw or cooked, and are also made into wine, jams, and jellies.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw or made into wine. They are also used for jams, juice and jellies. The flavour is mild like a common grape.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Warmed bark is applied as a poultice to treat hard boils.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It will not tolerate frost. It needs regular moisture throughout the year. It suits the hot, humid tropical lowlands. It grows in areas with rainfalls of 1,500-4,000 mm per year. The average temperatures are 20-28°C. Trees will stand short periods of flooding but are very susceptible to drought. It grows naturally in the rainforests of Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. It grows up to 1,700 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil*, Colombia*, Ecuador*, Pacific, Mexico, Peru*, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America*, Venezuela*, West Indies,

Cultivation

A tree of the hot, humid, tropical lowlands, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It is not tolerant of frost. Succeeds in full sun or dappled shade. Found in the wild on fertile, clayey soils. A relatively fast-growing plant, it can commence fruiting when three years old. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seeds are required.

Propagation

Best sown as soon as ripe in a sunny seedbed. Germination typically occurs within 3–5 weeks, though less than 50% of seeds usually sprout.

Other Uses

The wood is light, soft, easy to work, thick-textured, and has poor mechanical properties with low durability. It is used for linings, boxes, toys, and plywood, and can also be pulped for cellulose.

Production

They are fast growing. Seedling trees can produce fruit in 1-3 years.

Other Information

The fruit are enjoyed. It is a cultivated food plant. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Notes

There are 25 Pourouma species. Also put in the family Cecropiaceae and Moraceae.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Airo cuiya'i, Amarten, Ambauba-do-vinho, Ambaibillo, Ambaibo macho, Baacohe, Bochoa tsaha, Caima, Caimaron, Camairon, Chimiqua, Cirpe, Cocura, Cucura, Cucuva, Cuiya'i, Curcura, Gurucana, Huo'coro, Ikitoka, La'ti, Maca ede ni, Mapati, Peruma, Puruma, Sacha uvilla, Sadajii, Sesho, Shuinia, Sirpe, Tamaribe, Tarpu uvillas, Ubilla, Uva, Uva cimarona, Uva de monte, Uvilla del monte, Uvula, Washi shuinia, Willas, Yai queopea, Yanat, Yuhue

References (34)

• Coronel, R.E., 1982, Fruit Collections in the Philippines. IBPGR Newsletter p 8
• Darley, J.J., 1993, Know and Enjoy Tropical Fruit. P & S Publishers. p 133
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 75
• Gilmore, M. P., et al, 2013, The socio-cultural importance of Mauritia flexuosa palm swamps (aguajales) and implications for multi-use management in two Maijuna communities of the Peruvian Amazon. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2013, 9:29
• Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 520

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