Borojoa patinoi
Cuatrec.
Rubiaceae
Common Name: Borojo
General Information
Borojo is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 3 - 17 metres tall[
].
The fruit is much prized in parts of S. America, where it is often harvested from the wild and sold for high prices in local markets[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The plant is sometimes cultivated by the indigenous people to make juice from the fruits and for medicinal purposes[
]. The plant has recently come to the attention of people outside the rainforest, and the fruit is currently (2010) being sold through a number of Internet sites as a health-promoting drink[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
Northwestern S. America - Colombia and Brazil, north through Central America to Nicaragua.
Habitat
Lowland rainforests, usually at elevations up to 700 metres but occasionally to 1,200 metres[
]..
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of warm tropical lowlands usually at elevations up to 700 metres, but sometimes to 1,200 metres[
]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures fall within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 32°c[
]. Temperatures in its native region may reach up to an absolute maximum of 41°c[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 6,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 9,000mm[
]. It thrives with high air humidity average up to almost 90%[
].
Succeeds in heavy soils[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7[
].
The fruit takes more than one year to ripen after flowering.
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - eaten raw or made into jellies, preserves, sauces, ice cream etc[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. A sweet, aromatic flavour with some bitterness[
335- Title
- Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory
- Publication
-
- Author
- Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M.
- Publisher
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
- Year
- 1987
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
]. The green to brown fruit is 7 - 12 cm in diameter with a brown pulp that is very acid and dense[
].
The fruit pulp is used to prepare juice (jugo del amor), compotes, marmalades, candies and wine[
].
Medicinal
The fruit is prized for its tonic and cure-all qualities[
]. It is famous in western Colombia for its supposed aphrodisiac properties[
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
