 David H. Lorence
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Taxonomy: |
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Muntingia calabura L. (Muntingiacea)
Common Names: Jamaica Cherry, Strawberry Tree
Mexico: capolin, palman, bersilana, jonote and puan
Guatemala and Costa Rica: capulin blanco
El Salvador: capulin de comer
Panama: pasito or majagüillo
Colombia: chitató, majagüito, chirriador, acuruco, tapabotija and nigua
Venezuela: majagua, majaguillo, mahaujo, guácimo hembra, cedrillo, niguo, niguito
Ecuador: nigüito
Peru: bolina, iumanasa, yumanaza, guinda yunanasa, or mullacahuayo
Brazil: calabura or pau de seda
Argentina: cedrillo majagua
Cuba: capulina, chapuli
Haiti, bois d' orme, bois de soie marron
Dominican Republic: memiso or memizo
Guadeloupe: bois ramier or bois de soie
Philippines: datiles, ratiles, latires, cereza or seresa
Thailand, takop farang or ta kob farang
Cambodia, kakhop
Vietnam, cay trung ca
Malaya, buah cheri, kerukup siam or Japanese cherry
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division; Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Monocotyledonae
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Malvales
Family: Muntingiaceae
Genus: Muntingia
Species: calabura
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Description: |
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This is a very fast-growing tree reaching 7.5-12 m. in height, with spreading, nearly horizontal branches.
The leaves are oblong and pointed at the ends 5-12.5 cm long, dark-green on the upper surface, and somewhat hairy on the underside.. The flowers grow in 2's or 3's from where leaf attaches to the branch. The flowers are tiny, 1.25-2 cm wide, and last less than a day, typically dropping off the tree in the afternoon! Each tree produces many round, small (1-1.25 cm) fruits, with red or sometimes yellow, smooth, thin skin. The fruits are very sweet and delicious, comparable in taste to a fig, and contain many tiny seeds.
(Morton, J. 1987. Jamaica Cherry. p. 65–69. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.)
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Geographic Distribution: |
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The Jamaica cherry is indigenous to southern Mexico, Central America, tropical South America, the Greater
Antilles, St. Vincent and Trinidad. It is widely cultivated in warm areas of the New World and in India, Southeast Asia, Malaya, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Several trees were introduced into Hawaii by the United States Department of Agriculture in 1922.(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html)
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Food Uses: |
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Muntingia calabura fruits are eaten straight off the tree. It can also be cooked in pies or made into preserves. The leaves make a flavorful tea when steeped in hot water.
(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html)
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Medicinal Uses:** |
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The flowers are said to possess antiseptic properties. An infusion of the flowers is valued as an antispasmodic. It is taken to relieve headache and the first symptoms of a cold.
(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html)
** The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.
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Species Interconnections and Interdependencies: |
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In Brazil foresters have recommend that the tree be planted on river banks so that the flowers and fruits falling into the water will attract fish for the benefit of fishermen.
In Malaya, the tree is considered a nuisance in home gardens because fruit-bats eat the fruits and then spend the day under the eaves of houses disfiguring porches and terraces with their pink, seedy droppings.
(http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html)
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Indigenous Practices: |
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The sapwood is yellowish, the heartwood red-dish-brown, firm, compact, fine-grained, moderately strong, light in weight, durable indoors, easily worked, and useful for interior sheathing, small boxes, casks, and general carpentry.
It is valued mostly as fuel, for it ignites quickly, burns with intense heat and gives off very little smoke. Jamaicans seek out trees blown down by storms, let them dry for a while and then cut them up, preferring this to any other wood for cooking. It is being evaluated in Brazil as a source of paper pulp. The bark is commonly used for lashing together the supports of rural houses. It yields a very strong, soft fiber for twine and large ropes.
( http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/jamaica_cherry.html)
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NEWS
