20 Graines Cerisier de la Jamaïque, Muntingia calabura

Cherry of Jamaica, Baies de Panama, Muttingia Calabura |

Muntingia Calabura is a shrub or a tree reaching 12 m high and with thick2branches. The leaves are alternate, districs, oblong or lanceolate, measure 4–15 cm long and 1–6 cm wide, have a toothed edge and are covered with short hairs2,3,4. The flowers are small (up to 3 cm wide), solitary or in 2-3 flowers inflorescences. They include 5 lanceolate, hairy sepales, 5 obores white petals, many stamens with yellow anthers and an ovoid ovarian ovary2,3,4. The fruit is a edible bay, red at maturity, about 1.5 cm wide2,3.

20 seeds - non -rustic

Muntingia Calabura is from southern Mexico, Caribbean, Central America and West South America, up to Bolivia and Argentina2,3,5. It is present in tropical climate in disturbed plain areas, from sea level up to 1000 m above sea level1,3.

This species colonizes the disrupted habitats in the low tropical lands, thus part of the secondary vegetation, as well as the forest galleries3,6. He thrives in poor soil, capable of tolerating acid and alkaline conditions and drought, but does not develop in saline conditions3.

The seeds are dispersed by birds and rousters3.

Although the generally of tropical America, M. Calabura was introduced into Southeast Asia and naturalized there and other tropical regions of the world1,4,7.

Mr. Calabura is planted as a source of wood and fuel. Its tender wood is used in rural construction, while its bark is fibrous and is used for the manufacture of strings1,6.

The fruits are edible and in some cases sold on the markets, as they can be consumed raw or transformed into jam. The sheets can be used to make tea1,6. Traditional medicinal uses have also been reported for leaves (headaches, prostate problems, reduction in gastric ulcers), bark (antiseptic), flowers (antiseptic, reducing swelling, antispasmodic) and fruits (problems respiratory; anti-diarrheal)1,6,9.

It can be planted as an ornamental species6 and also because flowers are a source of nectar and pollen for beekeeping6. In Brazil, the tree is also planted at the edge of a river, because the fallen fruits attract fish1.

Mr. Calabura has the potential to be a useful species for the restoration of disturbed areas and the fight against soil erosion6. It also offers a fauna shelter because it constitutes a source of food for around 60 species of birds and mammals6.

M. Calabura can multiply from seeds, plants or cuttings6. In Costa Rica, the seeds fall during the rainy season, but require light and temperature conditions specific to forest gaps6,10. During a test where seeds were placed in a damp paper towel, 44% of the seeds germinated in white light at 25 ° C, while none of them germinated in conditions of Obcurity10.

Contents subject to the CC-BY-SA license 3.0. Source : Article MUTINGIGIA from Wikipedia in French (Authors)