Common Name:

General Information

Byrsonima coccolobifolia is a deciduous tree with a small, sparse, globose crown; it can grow 4 - 6 metres tall. The cylindrical bole is usually crooked, around 15 - 25cm in diameter with a thick, corky bark[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood and edible fruit.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Paraguay, southern, central, eastern and northern Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Surinam.

Habitat

Open and wooded savannahs, growing mainly in sandy, well-drained soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position[]. Prefers a sandy, well-drained soil[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing tree, growing less than 150cm tall after 2 years from seed[].
The thick, corky bark protects the plant from damage by fire[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. A juicy pulp[]. The yellow, globose fruit is about 10mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, moderately heavy, soft, with poor mechanical properties and very subject to rot when exposed to the elements[]. It is easy to work but, because of its small dimensions, is only used for general carpentry, rustic furniture etc[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a nursery seedbed in a sunny position. Germination rates are normally low, with the seed sprouting within 5 - 8 weeks[]. Seedlings grow away slowly and will take 9 months or more before being ready to plant out.

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?