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Plinia cauliflora - (Mart.) Kausel

Common Name Jaboticaba
Family Myrtaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known in the wild
Range S. America - eastern Brazil, Bolivia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Plinia cauliflora Jaboticaba


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Plinia cauliflora Jaboticaba
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Summary

Plinia cauliflora or commonly known as Jacoticaba is a tropical, medium-sized cultivated fruit tree native to South Brazil. It is slow-growing, reaching a height of usually about 5-13 m and trunk diameter of up to 20 cm. The crown is round, symmetrical, dense, and wide. Its small, dark green leaves are arranged oppositely. The flowers are white and small. The fruit is purple and globose, with thick skin and translucent, juicy pulp. It is high in Vitamin C and can be eaten raw or processed first into sweets or fermented into wine. Jacoticaba fruit jam is known in Brazil as 'Brazilian Grape Jelly'. There are no known medicinal uses of this plant. The wood is only used for charcoal and as fuel. The plant can be grown from seeds or by grafting.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Plinia cauliflora is an evergreen Tree growing to 13 m (42ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Eugenia cauliflora (Mart.) DC. Eugenia jaboticaba (Vell.) Kiaersk. Myrcia jaboticaba (Vell.) Baill.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit
Edible Uses: Drink

The fruit can be eaten raw, made into jellies, syrups and preserves or fermented into wine[200 , 301 ]. The purplish, grape-like fruit has a thick skin with a translucent, juicy pulp and a pleasant vinous flavour[301 ]. In both taste and appearance they are remarkably like some cultivars of the muscadine grape[301 ]. The fruit is rich in vitamin C[200 ]. The fruit begin to ferment 2-4 days after harvest and should be consumed or processed immediately. The skin is usually discarded. The shining-black, globose fruit is up to 35mm in diameter[200 ]. The jam is marketed in Brazil as 'Brazilian Grape Jelly'[301 ].

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.
Vitamin C

None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Charcoal  Fuel  Wood

Other Uses: The wood is straight-grained, average texture, moderately heavy, but susceptible to wood-eating organisms[625 ]. It is only used as a fuel and to make charcoal[625 ].

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of the tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,700 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 22 - 28°c but can tolerate 10° - 32°c[418 ]. When dormant, the plant can survive occasional short-lived temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[418 ]. Mature trees have moderate drought tolerance. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range of 900 - 1,500mm but tolerates 700 - 1,700mm[418 ]. Requires a sunny position[625 ]. Prefers fertile, deep, well-drained, humus-rich, mildly acid soil[200, 335 ]. Tolerant of moderate levels of salt in the soil[418 ]. Plants have a high requirement for iron[200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range of 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[418 ]. Newly planted young trees are quite slow to establish and grow away[625 ]. Plants commence fruiting about 6 - 10 years from seed and four years from layering[307, 335 ]. In warm tropical and subtropical areas with light rainfall, the plant can produce 5 or 6 crops each year[200 ]. The flowers and fruits are formed on the trunk and branches[307 ]. Plants have a compact, fibrous root system and transplant well[307 ]. There is at least one named form[301 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates can be 90% or more, with the seed sprouting within 20 - 35 days[625 ]. The seedlings grow quite slowly[625 ]. Cuttings Side-veneer grafting

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Guapuru, Taanumox, Ibapumi, Jabuticabeira, Jabuticaba, Jabuticabeira-preta, Jabuticabeira-rajada, Jabuticabeira-rosea, Jacoticaba de Sao Paulo, Grauda, jaboticabeira.

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais (south), Paraná, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo,

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.

Conservation Status

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

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Plinia edulisCambuca, ambucazeiro, Cambuca-verdadeiroTree7.0 10-12 SLMHSNM402

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Mart.) Kausel

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.

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