Common Name: Borojo

General Information

Borojoa patinoi 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[]. 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[].

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[]. 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[]. A sweet, aromatic flavour with some bitterness[]. 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 -

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