Common Name:

General Information

Melicoccus lepidopetalus is a semideciduous tree with a dense, widely pyramidal crown; it can grow 8 - 18 metres tall. The short bole can be 50 - 80cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible fruit and seed, plus its useful wood, which are used locally. The tree is also sometimes cultivated as a fruit crop, and also to provide shade[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, central and eastern Brazil, Bolivia.

Habitat

Gallery forests, in both dense, primary formations as well as in more open areas of secondary growth; favouring moist, calcareous soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	13.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows best in a sunny position[]. Grows in the wild on moist, calcareous soils[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The fleshy pulp is eaten as a snack[]. The fruit is rich in iron[]. The fruit is a reddy-brown, globose drupe up to 20mm in diameter, containing a single seed[].

Seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is grown on farms to provide shade[].

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, cross-grained, heavy, hard to cut, flexible, with excellent mechanical properties and moderately durable. It is only used locally for purposes such carpentry, scantlings, laths, floor boards, cabinet making, ornamental pieces, tool handles etc[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A germination rate of less than 50% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 15 - 25 days[].

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