There has been some confusion over the correct name for the Barbados cherry, also known as the Acerola. Current thinking seems to be that there are two closely related species, this one and Malpighia glabra. This species is the genuine Barbados cherry that is cultivated for its fruit in Puerto Rico, whilst Malpighia glabra, also known as Barbados cherry or Escobillo, is not the species cultivated in Puerto Rico.

Common Name: Acerola

General Information

Malpighia emarginata is a much-branched evergreen shrub or small tree growing around 2 - 8 metres tall[, ].
The plant is widely cultivated in tropical areas for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[]. It is grown especially in Puerto Rico, from where it is exported in quite large quantities as a health juice to the United States. The plant is also used locally as a mediine and is sometimes grown as a hedge.
Malpighia emarginata is the most common Malpighia species in cultivation, and it has been introduced pantropically for the harvest of the fruits, due to its high vitamin C content. The large scale cultivation of the species means that little is known about the population of the species in the wild. The plant is classified as 'Data Deficient' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - Mexico, through central America to Colombia. Naturalized through the Caribbean.

Habitat

Semi-deciduous forest and semi-evergreen forest; at elevations up to 1,000 metres in southern Mexico[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Data Deficient
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Malpighia emarginata is a plant mainly of the seasonally dry tropics.
Easily grown in a good soil and a sunny position[].
Seedlings can fruit when only 2 - 3 years old, but are not always of as good quality as their parents[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The bright red fruit can range in flavour from sweet to somewhat acid[, ]. As well as being eaten out of hand, they can also be stewed, made into juices, sauces, jellies, jams, wines or purees[, ]. The fruits are very rich in vitamin C (1 - 4 g per 100 g juice)[, ]. They are widely used in the preparation of vitamin tablets and other nutritional supplements[]. The juice is added to other juices in order to improve their nutritional value[]. Plants can produce 2 - 3 crops of fruit a year[].

Medicinal

Sore throat: The juice from the crushed leaf is diluted in cool water and then gargled as a treatment for sore throat[]..

A decoction of the bark is drunk as a treatment for fevers[].

The fruit is a rich source of vitamin C. The juice is drunk as a treatment for hepatitis and gastrointestinal disorders[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Grown as a hedge[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings - cuttings of half-ripe wood, with entire leaves, in a frame with bottom heat[].

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