Spanish: Madrono.
Region: south America, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil, north through Central America to Mexico and the Caribbean.
Habitat: hot, tropical lowlands; forests, not inundated; savannahs, open woodland, in low, secondary formations; sunny position; poor soils; drought tolerant.
Use: medicinal; wood; fruit for beverages, for jellies and sweets; wood for fuel and charcoal.
BotanyDioecious, semi-deciduous shrub or small tree with an irregular, sparse crown; to 6 metres tall; bole is usually crooked and 15 - 25 cm in diameter.
Stem: wood is moderately heavy, coarse-textured, irregular-grained, hard to cut, low resistance to rot.
Fruit: ovoid; ± 4 cm diameter; 40g weight; sweet, fleshy pulp.