Malpighia emarginata
DC.
Malpighiaceae
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 M. glabra. This species is the genuine Barbados cherry that is cultivated for its fruit in Puerto Rico, whilst B. glabra, also known as Barbados cherry or Escobillo, is not the species cultivated in Puerto Rico.
Malpighia berteroana Spreng.
Malpighia glabra Hort.
Malpighia lanceolata Griseb.
Malpighia punicifolia Auct.
Malpighia punicifolia lancifolia Nied.
Malpighia punicifolia obovata Nied.
Malpighia punicifolia vulgaris Nied.
Malpighia retusa Benth.
Malpighia umbellata Rose
Malpighia urens lanceolata (Griseb.) Griseb.
Common Name: Acerola
Fruiting branches of plant in Venezuela
Photograph by: Wilfredo R. RodrÃguez H.
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Fruiting branches of plant in Venezuela
Photograph by: Wilfredo R. RodrÃguez H.
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowers and developing fruit
Photograph by: Nevinho
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Fruits
Photograph by: Wikitanu
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Barbados cherry is an evergreen shrub growing around 4 metres tall.
The plant is widely cultivated in tropical areas for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[
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.
]. It is grown especially in Puerto Rico, from where it is exported in quite large quantities as a health juice to the United States.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
C. America - Mexico to northern S. America and the Caribbean.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
| Height | 4.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Easily grown in a good soil and a sunny position[
296- Title
- Tropical Food Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
- Norrington. L.
- Publisher
- Bloomings Books (Melbourne)
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-876473-41-x
- Description
- Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
].
Seedlings can fruit when only 2 - 3 years old, but are not always of as good quality as their parents[
296- Title
- Tropical Food Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
- Norrington. L.
- Publisher
- Bloomings Books (Melbourne)
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-876473-41-x
- Description
- Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
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 bright red fruit can range in flavour from sweet to somewhat acid[
296- Title
- Tropical Food Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
- Norrington. L.
- Publisher
- Bloomings Books (Melbourne)
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-876473-41-x
- Description
- Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
,
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.
]. As well as being eaten out of hand, they can also be stewed, made into juices, sauces, jellies, jams, wines or purees[
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 fruits are very rich in vitamin C (1 - 4 g per 100 g juice)[
296- Title
- Tropical Food Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
- Norrington. L.
- Publisher
- Bloomings Books (Melbourne)
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-876473-41-x
- Description
- Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
,
]. They are widely used in the preparation of vitamin tablets and other nutritional supplements[
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 juice is added to other juices in order to improve their nutritional value[
]. Plants can produce 2 - 3 crops of fruit a year[
296- Title
- Tropical Food Gardens
- Publication
-
- Author
- Norrington. L.
- Publisher
- Bloomings Books (Melbourne)
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
- 1-876473-41-x
- Description
- Excellent little book giving some basic information on a range of plants.
].
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
Grown as a hedge[
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
Cuttings
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.
