Characteristics
A small tree. It grows 6-15 m tall. It may or may not have thorns. These thorns can be 8 cm long on the branches. The leaves are alternate and 8 cm long. They are compound with a single leaflet at the end. There are 3-4 pairs of leaflets. These are oval and finely irregular along the edge. They have a rough surface and are shiny on the upper surface. They are covered with cottony hairs underneath. The leaflets are 1.5-3.5 cm long by 1-1.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is hairy. The flowers can be in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. Flowers have 5 petals. The fruit is rounded with a hard outer cover. It is green with white flesh. There are many seeds inside.
Life form |
perennial
|
Growth form |
tree
|
Growth support |
-
|
Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
Pollination |
-
|
Spread |
-
|
Mature width (meter) |
-
|
Mature height (meter) |
9.0 - 13.5
|
Root system |
-
|
Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
Flower color |
-
|
Blooming months |
-
|
Fruit color |
-
|
Fruiting months |
-
|
Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
A tropical plant. It grows in dense forests and secondary undergrowth. It is also cultivated.
Light |
-
|
Soil humidity |
-
|
Soil texture |
-
|
Soil acidity |
-
|
Soil nutriment |
-
|
Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The ripe fruit are eaten and give an acid flavour. The fruit is soaked in water for a few minutes before using if it has been dried. The flowers are also used as a vegetable. The raw young shoots and leaves are eaten with sour bamboo shoot salad.
Cultivation
Can be grown by seedlings.
Mode |
seedlings
|
Germination duration (days) |
-
|
Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
Germination luminosity |
-
|
Germination treatment |
-
|
Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
Optimum temperature (C°) |
23 - 30
|
Size |
-
|
Vigor |
-
|
Productivity |
-
|