Plinia cauliflora
Fruit tree in the myrtle family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A jaboticaba[3] (/dʒæbɒtɪˈkɑːbə/) or jabuticaba (Portuguese: [ʒabutʃiˈkabɐ]) is a round, edible fruit produced by a jaboticaba tree (Plinia cauliflora), also known as Brazilian grapetree. The purplish-black, white-pulped fruit grows directly on the trunk of the tree, making it an example of 'cauliflory'. It is eaten raw or used to make jellies, jams, juice or wine.[4] The tree, of the family Myrtaceae, is native to the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Goiás and São Paulo in Brazil.[5][6] Related species in the genus Myrciaria, often referred to by the same common names, are native to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia.[7] Jaboticaba tree is also grown as an ornamental and bonsai.
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| Jaboticaba | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Plinia |
| Species: | P. cauliflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Etymology
The name jaboticaba derives from the Tupi word îaboti, Lusitanized as jaboti/jabuti (tortoise) + kaba (place), meaning "the place where tortoises are found";[8] it has also been interpreted to mean 'like turtle fat', referring to the fruit's white pulp.[9][10][11] It may also derive from ïapotï'kaba meaning "fruits in a bud".[12]
The Guarani name is yvapurũ: yva means fruit and the onomatopoeic word purũ, from pururũ,[13] describes the crunching sound the fruit produces when bitten.[14]
Description
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Plant
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The tree is a slow-growing evergreen that can reach 15 meters (49 ft) if not pruned. The leaves are salmon-pink when young, turning green as they mature.[15]
The tree prefers moist, rich, lightly acidic soil. It is widely adaptable, however, and grows satisfactorily even on alkaline beach-sand type soils, so long as it is tended and irrigated. Its flowers are white and grow directly from the trunk in a cauliflorous habit.[16] In their native habitat, jaboticaba trees may flower and fruit five to six times a year. Jaboticaba trees are tropical to subtropical plants and can tolerate mild, brief frosts, but not below 26 °F (-3 °C).[9]
The tree has a compact, fibrous root system, which makes it suitable for growing in pots or transplanting.[17]
Fruit
The fruit is a thick-skinned berry and typically measures 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) in diameter. The fruit resembles a slip-skin grape. It has a thick, purple, astringent skin that encases a sweet, white or rosy pink gelatinous flesh. Embedded within the flesh are one to four large seeds, which vary in shape depending on the species.[18] Jaboticaba seeds are recalcitrant and they lose viability within 10 days when stored at room temperature.[19]
In Brazil, the fruit of several related species in the Plinia and Myrciaria genera share the same common name.[20]
Production and cultivation
Jaboticabas have been cultivated in Brazil since pre-Columbian times. Today, the fruit is a commercial crop in the central and southern parts of the country.[21]
Commercial cultivation of the fruit in the Northern Hemisphere is more restricted by slow growth and the short shelf life of the fruit than by temperature requirements.[22] Grafted plants may bear fruit in five years, while seed-grown trees may take 10 to 20 years to bear fruit.[19]
Jaboticaba trees are fairly adaptable to various growing conditions, tolerating sand or rich topsoil. They are intolerant of salty soils or salt spray.[23] They are tolerant of mild drought, though fruit production may be reduced, and irrigation is required in extended or severe droughts.[20]
Jaboticaba trees are vulnerable to rust, Austropuccinia psidii,[24] particularly when the tree flowers during heavy rain. Other important diseases that affect jaboticaba trees include canker (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides), dieback (Rosellinia), and fruit rot (Botrytis cinerea).[25]
Uses
Culinary
Common in Brazilian markets, jaboticabas are largely eaten fresh.[26] Fruit may begin to ferment 3 to 4 days after harvest, so it is often used to make jams, tarts, strong wines, and liqueurs. Due to its short shelf-life, fresh jaboticaba is rare in markets outside areas of cultivation.[21]
The fruit has been compared to Muscadine grapes,[17] and in Japan the flavor of jaboticaba has been described as similar to that of Kyoho grapes.[27]
Bonsai
Because of their slow growth and small size when immature, jaboticaba trees are popular as bonsai or container ornamental plants in temperate regions.[28] The tree is a widely used bonsai species in Taiwan and parts of the Caribbean.[29]
Cultural significance
The jaboticaba tree appears as a charge on the coat of arms of Contagem, Minas Gerais, Brazil.[31]
In Brazilian politics, and less commonly in everyday speech, "jabuticaba" is a slang that describes a political or legal setting that is considered absurd, unusual, or needlessly complex, among others, that could only exist in Brazil. It is a reference to the popular belief that jaboticaba trees can only grow in Brazil.[32][33]
Related species
A number of similar species of plant in the family Myrtaceae produce fruit that is also known by the common name jaboticaba.[20][26]
- Myrciaria glazioviana (jabuticaba amarela or yellow jaboticaba)
- Myrciaria tenella (jabuticaba macia or soft jaboticaba)
- Plinia coronata (jabuticaba coroada or king jaboticaba)
- Plinia grandifolia (jabuticaba graúda or large jaboticaba)
- Plinia martinellii (jabuticabinha da mata or little forest jaboticaba)
- Plinia oblongata (jabuticaba azeda or sour jaboticaba)
- Plinia peruviana (jabuticaba cabinho or small stemmed jaboticaba)
- Plinia phitrantha (jabuticaba branca or white jaboticaba)
- Plinia rivularis (jabuticaba de cacho or bunched jaboticaba)
- Plinia spirito-santensis (jabuticaba peluda de cruz, hairy cross jaboticaba)
