Common Name: Smooth Genip

General Information

Smooth genip is a semideciduous tree with a dense, globose crown; it can grow 8 - 16 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 40 - 60cm in diameter[, ].
The fruit is gathered from the wild and consumed locally[]. The tree also supplies a dye and a useful timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Slopes in the rainforest and sandy plateaux[]. Found mainly in dense, primary forest, on clayey and well-drained soils, but is also seen as an isolated tree in pasture[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun to dappled shade[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. An aromatic, fleshy pulp with many seeds and an acidic flavour[, ]. Made into juices, often with sugar added to reduce the acidity[]. The green, globose fruit can be up to 12cm in diameter[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The immature fruit is used as a dye[].

The wood is fine-textured, straight-grained, heavy, soft, flexible, with poor mechanical properties and medium durability[]. It is used in general construction, cabinet making, for curved pieces, window frames, gun stocks, turnery, tool handles etc[].

Propagation

Seed - it is not dormant and so pre-treatment is not necessary. However, soaking the seeds in running water for 1 - 2 days just prior to sowing will accelerate germination[]. Seed may be sown in light shade in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates are normally high with between 65 - 100% of the seed sprouting within 1 - 4 weeks. The seedlings are ready for pricking out about 20 days later[]. Initial growth rates are slow, taking about 12 months to attain a transplanting size of 20 - 40cm[]. Because of drought sensitivity the best way of establishment is to use containerised seedlings[].
Vegetative propagation by cuttings is also possible[].
Grafting is used for varieties with superior fruit quality[].

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