Common Name: Mamoncillo

General Information

Mamoncillo is a large, spreading but slow-growing evergreen tree with a frondose crown[, ]. It can reach a height of 20 metres[, ]. The bole can be 30 - 60cm in diameter, usually slightly angled and fluted[].
The edible fruit is popular within the plant's native range, where it is often gathered from the wild. The tree has also been cultivated, probably since before the Europeans got to S. America, and the fruit is often found for sale in local markets. Because of its leathery skin, the fruit remains fresh for a long time and ships well, so it is also sometimes found in ethnic markets in other countries[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern and western S. America - Colombia and Venezuela.

Habitat

Dry coastal limestone woodland[]. Along the sides of roads, secondary thickets and woodlands at elevations up to 600 metres in Jamaica[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	18.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 600 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 13 - 34°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,700mm[].
Prefers a fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position[], though it can also succeed in poor soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8.7[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[, ]. Plants can withstand the strongest salt-laden winds[].
Seedling plants take 7 - 10 years to begin fruiting[, ]. Cuttings can fruit in 4 - 5 years[].
The flowers are pleasantly scented and attract bees[].
There are some named varieties[].
Trees are intolerant of pruning[].
Some members of this species are hermaphrodite, whilst others can be dioecious[]. Most forms are dioecious, in which case it is necessary to grow both male and female forms if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is juicy, aromatic and somewhat sweet with a pleasant, acid flavour[]. A sweet and gelatinous pulp with a grape-like flavour[]. Usually eaten out of hand, they can also be cooked in pies, jams and jellies etc[]. They make a cooling drink[]. The fruit is up to 3cm in diameter, containing a single, occasionally two, large seed[, ].

The large, starchy seeds are roasted and used as a substitute for cassava[200. 301, , ]. The elliptic seeds can be up to 28mm long[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark is widely used by local people to treat dysentery[].

An infusion of the leaves is used to decrease or retard perspiration[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is light brown to pale yellow-gray; the sapwood light brown. The wood is of medium weight, fairly hard but does not resist decay]. It is sometimes used for cabinet work, construction and interior works[, ].

Propagation

Seed - seedlings often do not fruit as well as their parent[].
Air layering.
Greenwood cuttings.
Grafting.

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