2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
The mysterious world of nature never ceases to amaze us. It is impossible to imagine that berries grow directly on the trunk of a tree. And this is possible and this miracle is called jabotikaba. An unusual plant will be discussed in the proposed article
Jaboticaba is a fantastic tree that is naturalized as a fruit crop in the tropics, especially in southern Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina. In the wild, this plant is also found, which is distinguished by a special way of fruit formation. As a result of the phenomenon of caulifloria, the flowers and fruits of this tree are formed not only on the branches, but also on the trunk itself.
Botanical description
Jaboticaba is an exotic evergreen grape tree. Growth is rather slow and unhurried, under favorable conditions it reaches a height of 12 meters. The appearance of the tree attracts and attracts attention. This "exotic" is powerful and strong enough, at the same time it is indescribably beautiful. The leaves of the tree are evergreen, glossy, leathery, oval-elongated, up to 10 cm long and 1 - 2 cm wide, with a myrtle scent. The main trunk of the tree is massive, covered, like the branches, with a light pink-gray bark. In springtime, the tree is decorated with attractive small white flowers with long stamens, collected in inflorescences. Flower buds form directly on the trunk of the tree and on the branches. This distinguishes jabotikaba from many other fruit tree varieties, in which flowers and fruits are located at the tips of branches.
The jaboticaba fruit is similar to a grape and has a round or elliptical shape. Usually, the appearance of the berries depends on the type of tree, more often the fruits are collected in peculiar bunches located on the main trunk and branches. In the early stages of ripening, the skin of the fruit is pale green, later it becomes dark purple, almost black and rough, not eaten due to the large amount of tannins. Inside, the fruit contains a large bone surrounded by a white-pink juicy jelly-like and aromatic pulp with a sweet taste. The size of the fruit fruit - drupe in diameter reaches 4 cm. It is possible to harvest jaboticaba every 3-4 weeks during the summer season.
Growing jaboticaba at home
Florists today use jaboticaba as an ornamental houseplant. Due to its low growth rate, the tree is used as a bonsai. Jabotikaba can be grown both in a city apartment and in a winter garden as a container plant. For planting, a neutral or slightly acidic soil mixture with good drainage is suitable. Choose a humus-free soil cooked with peat or coconut fiber. With a strong growth of the root system, you can cut the roots of a healthy plant if it is not possible to transplant it into a large container.
Water your homemade Brazilian grapes regularly. Avoid waterlogging and overdrying, which will negatively affect a small tree. The plant responds well to fertilizing with mineral fertilizers, which should be applied in the spring-summer season. To prevent the plant from chlorosis, use iron supplements as foliar fertilizers several times a year.
Using jaboticaba
Jabothikaba fruits are consumed fresh, they have sufficient sweetness like grapes and pleasant sourness. The fruits are edible not only fresh, but also as jam, jelly, marmalade. Due to the beautiful dark color, juice is squeezed out of the fruit, various tinctures, wines, soft drinks are prepared, which act as a dye. Decoctions of dried peel, contain tannins, they are used as a remedy for diarrhea, asthma, dysentery.
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