Tropical Plant "Needle flower tree"
Posoqueria latifolia

Characteristics - The needle flower tree is not a cultivated tree (in Brazil) nor is it frequent in nature in its natural habitat, in the rainforest from southern Bahia to Santa Catarina. It is an evergreen tree, 6-15 m tall, new branches are tetragonal and fistulose, with triangular stipules, 6-13 cm long. Leaves coriaceous, very glabrous on both surfaces, 10-18 cm long, with 5-7 secondary nerves on each side and petiole of 1-2 cm. Inflorescences terminal  corybose, peduncular, with perfumed flowers, short pedicels, with a tubular corolla, 10-17 cm long, they form from October to December. The fruits are globose berries, with various polygonal and translucent seeds wrapped in sweet, carnose, edible aril; they mature in June – July.

Uses - The aril of the fruit is consumed in its natural state and only appreciated locally.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.