We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Alibertia patinoi - Cuatrec.

Common Name Borojo
Family Rubiaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Lowland rainforests, usually at elevations up to 700 metres but occasionally to 1,200 metres[ 418 ]..
Range Northwestern S. America - Colombia and Brazil, north through Central America to Nicaragua.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade
Alibertia patinoi Borojo


Jean-Luc Crucifix wikimedia.org
Alibertia patinoi Borojo
Giovanny Garzon Pardo wikimedia.org

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Borojo or Borojo patinoi is a small, tropical, evergreen shrub that grows up to 5 m high and is found in Northwestern South America. It is a dioecious species cultivated for its edible fruit that can be eaten raw or made into juice, jellies, preserves, etc. The fruit is also tonic and has many other medicinal uses. Found In: Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nauru, Panama, South America.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Alibertia patinoi is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 6 m (19ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Alibertia patinoi (Cuatrec.) Delprete & C.H.Perss.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Fruit - eaten raw or made into jellies, preserves, sauces, ice cream etc[ 301 ]. A sweet, aromatic flavour with some bitterness[ 335 ]. The green to brown fruit is 7 - 12 cm in diameter with a brown pulp that is very acid and dense[ 418 ]. The fruit pulp is used to prepare juice (jugo del amor), compotes, marmalades, candies and wine[ 418 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The fruit is prized for its tonic and cure-all qualities[ 418 ]. It is famous in western Colombia for its supposed aphrodisiac properties[ 418 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of warm tropical lowlands usually at elevations up to 700 metres, but sometimes to 1,200 metres[ 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures fall within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 32°c[ 418 ]. Temperatures in its native region may reach up to an absolute maximum of 41°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 6,000mm, tolerating 2,500 - 9,000mm[ 418 ]. It thrives with high air humidity average up to almost 90%[ 418 ]. Succeeds in heavy soils[ 335 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4 - 7[ 418 ]. The fruit takes more than one year to ripen after flowering. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required[ 418 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Borojo or Borojo patinoi.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Found In: Amazon, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nauru, Panama, South America.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Cuatrec.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Alibertia patinoi  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.