Myrciaria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Metrosideros
Myrciaria cauliflora fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Myrciaria Banks ex Gaertn.
Species
See text

Myrciaria is a genus of large shrubs and small trees native to South America, especially Brazil. Common names include Jaboticaba, Jabuticaba, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabara, and Ybapuru.

The Jaboticabas are a significant commercial fruit in Brazil, where most species are native. The fruit is grapelike in size and appearance, and often likened to a muscadine grape in taste. The flowers and subsequent fruits of M. cauliflora are borne directly on the main trunks.

M. dubia, the camu-camu berry, is grown primarily in flood-zone areas of Peru and has been called the fruit with the highest vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content of any fruit.

Selected species

• Myrciaria ciliolata O.Berg
• Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O.Berg (Jaboticaba)
• Myrciaria delicatula O.Berg
• Myrciaria dubia (Camu-Camu)
• Myrciaria jaboticaba
• Myrciaria tenella
• Myrciaria trunciflora
• Myrciaria floribunda (Rumberry)
• Myrciaria glomerata O.Berg (Yellow Jaboticaba)
• Myrciaria paraensis
• Myrciaria vexator (Blue Grape)