Malpighiaceae

• Acridocarpus natalitius
• Acridocarpus zanzibaricus W/C
• Banisteriopsis caapi W/C
• Bunchosia unidentified
• Malpighia coccigera
• Malpighia glabra
• Microsteira sp. W/C
• Stigmaphyllon ciliatum
• Tristellateia australasiae

• Query IPNI
• Common Name: Barbados Cherry, Acerola, Escobillo
• Family: Malpighiaceae Juss.

• Country of Origin: Texas south to South America
• Habitat: dry thorn woodlands

• Description: A tropical American tree. Fruit has a high vitamin C content and calcium and iron among its minerals. A slow grower which will reach 10 feet in a favorable environment, but only about 6 feet when container grown. Has a shrubby growth habit; young leaves are wine colored turning dark green. A tough, versatile plant that will grow in most soils, but will do better in a composted sandy loam. The thin-skinned fruit is cherry-like, red to crimson, semi-sweet to acid. Bears in its third year. Fruit is borne on previous year's growth and ripens a few days after flowering. Propagation is by seeds but generally from cuttings in the summer and airlayering.