Tropical Plant "Jaboticaba costada"
Myrciaria phitrantha

Characteristics - The jaboticaba costada or branca-vinho is seldom cultivated in domestic orchards; its natural habitat is unknown, since it has never been found in nature, having been described, in 1893, from material cultivated in Rio de Janeiro. It is a semi-deciduous tree, 4-7 m. Leaves chartaceous, 4-14 cm long, quasi-glabrous on the adaxial surface and pubescent and punctate on the abaxial; the main nerve is thin and deeply impressed, frequently pubescent on the adaxial surface. Flowers, aglome-rated on the caulis and old, leafless branches, have scale-like bracts, round and ciliate on the base of the peduncles. They form in Aug.-Sept. Fruits subglobose, costate, dark red with a sweet, smooth (velvety) pulp, ripening in Oct-Nov., and also in (Brazilian) summer.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state and in the form of sweet jellies.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.