"Brazilian / Surinam Cherry"

[Priyanjan]

We call these cherries!!! Obviously it is NOT the type of ‘cherries’ that we were shown pictures of when in the kindergarten.

The trees that I have seen are around 20’ or less. The tree trunk is also not ‘huge’. Branches spread in all directions and mostly sort of parallel (not exactly) to the ground. Although, the branches are not ‘huge’, they are quite strong. I have not heard or seen anyone falling off the tree….. snapped branch!!!



The most interesting thing about this tree is its fruits! In size they are a bit similar to a ‘big’ Nelli. The shape….. I wouldn’t attempt to explain…… the picture explains it all. Yes, the fruits are edible. When ripe, it’s flesh (if that’s what it’s called) becomes very soft which means it cannot be transported even in plastic crates!!! Usually it’s tree-to-mouth. It’s ‘skin’ (if that’s what its called) is very, very thin and the seed looks and feels somewhat similar to the seed of a Jambu.

Taste….. tricky …..

If it’s not ripe….. meaning red… really, really red….. don’t even think of having one.



Why, I made this post?

1.     I have felt that many don’t eat this stuff and worse chop the trees down. In time to come this will also be history.
2.     From what I know (I can be wrong here), lots of people don’t even know of this tree/fruit.
3.     I have no clue of its actual name….. neither do I know if (or not)  it’s ‘local’.
4.     I do love its bitter-sweet taste.

Would like to know its real name….. actually the commonly used name, if it’s ‘local’…. if it’s not, then it’s origin?

Priyanjan

Added Later -
Name - "Brazilian/Surinam Cherry"
Local Name - Yet to find out

[Harien de Mel]

From what I know (I can be wrong here), lots of people don’t even know of this tree/fruit.

I'm one of them.

Btw, nice capture of Yellow-fronted Barbet.

[Rish]

Hi Priyanjan

Looks a lot like this ne..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenia_uniflora
http://www.papayatreenursery.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=608

Origin and Distribution
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/surinam_cherry.html#Origin and Distribution
"The plant is native from Surinam, Guyana and French Guiana to southern Brazil (especially the states of Rio de Janeiro, Paraña, Santa Catharina and Rio Grande do Sul), and to northern, eastern and central Uruguay. It grows wild in thickets on the banks of the Pilcomayo River in Paraguay. It was first described botanically from a plant growing in a garden at Pisa, Italy, which is believed to have been introduced from Goa, India. Portuguese voyagers are said to have carried the seed from Brazil to India, as they did the cashew. It is cultivated and naturalized in Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia; also along the Atlantic coast of Central America; and in some islands of the West Indies–the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Croix, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and in the Bahamas and Bermuda. In 1918, Britton wrote, in the Flora of Bermuda, that ". . as it harbors the fruit fly, the tree has been largely cut out in recent years." It is frequently grown in Hawaii, Samoa, India and Ceylon as an ornamental plant and occasionally in tropical Africa, southern China and in the Philippines where it first fruited in 1911. It was long ago planted on the Mediterranean coast of Africa and the European Riviera".

If it is this "Brazilian/Surinam Cherry", you have got pretty close to the name  
But Eugenia uniflora is an invasive species so it is good it's not commonly seen (if this plant is the same thing)

Best,
Rish

[Priyanjan]

Hello Rish & Harien,

Rish - That's a LOT of information. Exactly what I was looking for. THANKS A LOT. So, now it seems like it was brought to these areas (meaning Bandarawela / Badulla / Diyatalawa) by the British, probably as an 'ornamental' plant. They probably grew it for making jam from it..... IT IS NICE.  . Thanks a LOT for all the research!

Harien - May be next time you visit these areas you'll be able to taste the fruits. Just remember to have only the red ones.  The birds (in the picture) love it. They always select the best ones.

Also, I am sure this grows in many other areas of Sri Lanka. So it should have a 'local' name too..... other than calling it just a 'cherry'.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Priyanjan

[Sheham]

Hello Priyanjan

Very Interesting, It was my first exposure to that fruit !!. It was different and tasted nice too. I have not seen it anywhere else except at your home

Good research by Rish. !. So finally found out what it is

Kind regards
Sheham

[Wije]

Hi Priyanjan,
I have a very little knowledge about plants.
But I saw in Divaina paper today 24th an article about 'Kamaranka'
When I searched the web I came across this site.
They all must be the same family

http://medicinalplantsofsrilanka.blogspot.com/2010/09/kamaranka.html

BR,
Wije

[Priyanjan]

Hello Wije,

The links given by Rish gives a load of details of the tree and the fruit.

We are yet to find out if the tree / fruit has a local name.

After going through your comment / post, I just feel that 'Kamaranka' is probably another fruit that some of us have not tasted.

Let's see if we can encourage the members to make posts on such fruits that we find in different parts of the country, but don't really know what they are.......hence don't attempt to taste/eat them..... Such info will certainly be good for travellers.

BTW, now that we know the name of this fruit, I edited the title.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Priyanjan

[Priyanjan]

Admin,

Oops! Looks like I had made a mistake in starting this thread in the General Discussions Board. Please do transfer this to the 'Plants & Flowers' Board.

Sorry for all the trouble!

Thanks,

Priyanjan

[lakdasun]

Oops! Looks like I had made a mistake in starting this thread in the General Discussions Board. Please do transfer this to the 'Plants & Flowers' Board.

Oooops... we seems to have missed that too... The thread moved to the plants board.

[Ashan253]

hi priyanjan
it looks like "kamaranka" and i guess from ur description the taste will be similar to it which means im gonna skip this one
rgds
Ashan

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