Edible: Fruit, Leaves - tea
A small tree up to 5-12 m high. The trunk is 15-20 cm across. Branches are wide spreading and almost horizontal. The young shoots are covered with hairs. The leaves are alternate and elliptical. They are 4-5 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The leaves are unequal at the base. The leaves have teeth along the edge. The leaf is dark green on top and dull below. The flowers are small and white or cream. They occur as one or two in the axils of leaves. The fruit stalk is 1.5 cm long. The fruit are small red berries 1-2 cm across. They have many tiny seeds. The fruit are edible.
A tropical plant. It is native to the West Indies and South America. They suit sandy coral soils of low islands. They grow from sea level up to about 1000 m altitude in the tropics. They need a warm, sunny, sheltered position. In Argentina it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In XTBG Yunnan.
Common Names: Acuruco, Aratiles, Bisilana, Bois de soie, Bois d'orme, Bois ramier, Bolina, Buah cheri, Cacanigua, Calabur, Calabura, Capulf, Capulin, Capulina, Capulin blanco, Capulin de comer, Carecillo, Cay trung ca, Cedrillo, Cedrillo majagua, Cereja-do-parana, Cereza, Cerezo caspi, Ceri, Cerri, Chapuli, Chichato, Chirriador, Chitato, Datiles, Guacimo hembra, Guasem, Guinda yunanasa, Huztlan, Hnget-thagya, Iumanasa, Jamaica cherry, Jam gas, Jam maram, Japanese strawberry tree, Jeymu, Kakhop, Kersen, Kerukup siam, Khoom somz, Krakob barang, Kresen, Latires, Mahaujo, Mai khom, Majagua, Majaguillo, Majaguito, Mat sam, Memiso, Memizo, Mullacahuayo, Nigua, Niguito, Niguo, Pasito, Pau de seda, Puan, Puyam, Puyan, Ratiles, Sachacapuli, Sarisa, Seresa, Shaina, Suji phal, Surrumbo, Takhon, Takhop farang, Takop farang, Tapabotija, Talok, Trung ca, Uvilla, Yumanasa, Yumanaza
Synonyms:
Muntingia rosea H. Karst.;