Common Name:

General Information

Melicoccus oliviformis is an evergreen tree with a dense, wide, globose crown; it can grow 6 - 20 metres tall, but is more usually around 15 metres. The cylindrical bole can be 25 - 35cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a source of food and wood. The tree is sometimes cultivated for its fruits in backyards and orchards, especially in Mexico and Venezuela, these fruits can sometimes be found for sale in local markets[, ]. It is also grown as an ornamental and shade tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Costa Rica to Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

An understorey tree in the Atlantic and coastal rainforests, most commonly in dense, primary formations, favouring well-drained soils on slopes[]. Wet and subhumid tropical forests from sea level to elevations of 150 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot, tropical lowlands[]. It is found in areas with an average annual temperature of 26 °c, with a maximum temperature of 36.7 °c and a minimum temperature of 14.9 °c[]. It succeeds in areas with a low to high rainfall that range between 900 - 1,800 mm with an average of approximately 1288mm[, ]. Plants are intolerant of frost[].
Succeeds in full sun to fairly dense, dappled shade[]. Prefers a well-drained soil[]. Succeeds in poor to good soils[].
Young plants have a moderate rate of growth[]. A long-lived, but slow-growing tree[].
Seedling trees can commence fruiting when 7 - 10 years old[].
This plant is probably one of the ancient Maya fruit trees[].
Plants are usually dioecious, so both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - eaten raw or used for jellies[, ]. A succulent, sweetly-acidulous pulp[]. The orange-red fruit pulp is somewhat acid but with an agreeable flavour[, ]. The yellowy-green, ellipsoid drupe is borne in clusters of 6 - 10; it can be 45mm long and 28mm wide, containing a single, large seed[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is medium-textured, irregular-grained, moderately heavy, slightly susceptible to the attacks of wood-eating organisms. It can be used in general construction for purposes such as scantlings, beams and boards[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. A germination rate of less than 30% can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days[].
Under humid conditions, fresh seeds germinate at 80 percent without pre-treatment. A heterogeneous sample of seeds germinated approximately 12 days after sowing[].
The seeds remain viable for approximately 9 months when stored under ambient conditions (24 to 30°c). Longer storage quickly diminishes seed viability[].

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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?