Genipa americana

Genipa americana
Flower of Genipa americana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Plantae
Clade:Angiosperms
Clade:Eudicots
Clade:Asterids
Order:Gentianales
Family:Rubiaceae
Genus:Genipa
Species: G. americana
Binomial name
Genipa americana
Synonyms
  • Genipa americana var. caruto K.Schum.
  • Genipa americana var. riobranquensis Kuhlm.
  • 'Genipa americana f. grandifolia Chodat & Hassl.
  • Genipa americana f. jorgensenii Steyerm.
  • Genipa americana f. parvifolia Chodat & Hassl.
  • Genipa barbata Presl
  • Genipa brasiliana A.Rich.
  • Genipa brasiliensis (Spreng.) Baill.
  • Genipa caruto Kunth
  • Genipa codonocalyx Standl.
  • Genipa excelsa K.Krause
  • Genipa grandifolia Pers.
  • Genipa humilis Vell.
  • Genipa oblongifolia Ruiz & Pav.
  • Genipa oleosa Rojas
  • Genipa pubescens DC.
  • Genipa venosa Standl.

Genipa americana is a species of trees in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to the tropical forests of North and South America.

Description

G. americana trees are up to 30 m tall and up to 60 cm dbh.[1][2][3] Their bark is smooth with little fissures.[3] The leaves are opposite, obovate, or obovate oblong, 10–35 cm long, 6–13 cm wide, and glossy dark green, with entire margin, acute or acuminate apex, and attenuated base.[1][4][2] The inflorescences are cymes up to 10 cm long.[1] The flowers are white to yellowish, slightly fragrant, calyx bell-shaped, corolla at 2–4.5 cm long, trumpet-shaped, and five- or six-lobed.[1][4][2] The five short stamens are inserted on top of the corolla tube.[4] The fruit is a thick-skinned edible greyish berry 10–12 cm long, 5–9 cm in diameter.[1][4]

Tree of Genipa americana.
Leaves and fruits of G. americana

Distribution and habitat

G. americana is native to the tropical forests of the Americas, from tropical Florida south to Argentina.[1][5][6] It is present from sea level up to 1200 m of elevation,[3] although some argue the original native range as being northern South America.[7]

Vernacular names

Colombia: jagua, caruto, huito;[3][5] Brazil: genipapo;[3] Costa Rica: guaitil, tapaculo;[3] Nicaragua: tapaculo, yigualtí;[3] Mexico: shagua, xagua;[3] Perú: huito, vito;[5] Argentina: ñandipá;[5] Bolivia: bí[8]

Chemical compounds

The following compounds have been isolated from G. americana: genipic acid,[9] genipinic acid,[9] genipin[10] (all three from the fruit) and geniposidic acid (leaves).[9]

Uses

The unripe fruit of G. americana yields a liquid used as a dye for tattoos, skin painting and insect repellent.[6]

This species is also cultivated for its edible fruits, which are eaten in preserves or made into drinks, jelly, or ice cream.[6]

The wood is reported to be resistant, strong, and easily worked; it is used in the making of utensils and in construction and carpentry.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Liogier, Alain H. (1985). Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands. La Editorial, UPR. p. 97. ISBN 9780847723386.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Francis, Macbride, J.; E., Dahlgren, B. (1936). "Flora of Peru /". Fieldiana. v.13:pt.6:no.1 [Rubiaceae]: 106.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 López, René; Montero, Martín (2005). "27 - Genipa americana". Manual de identificación de especies forestales con manejo certificable por comunidades (in Spanish). Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas "SINCHI". ISBN 9789589759745.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Food and Fruit-bearing Forest Species: Examples from Latin America. FAO. 1986. p. 141. ISBN 9789251023723.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Grandtner, M. M.; Chevrette, Julien (2013). Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780123969545.
  6. 1 2 3 Hanelt, Peter; Research, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant (2001). Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: (Except Ornamentals). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1775. ISBN 9783540410171.
  7. ↑ Duarte, Odilo; Paull, Robert (2015). Exotic Fruits and Nuts of the New World. CABI. pp. 284–285. ISBN 9781780645056.
  8. ↑ Coimbra Sanz, Germán (2014). Diccionario enciclopédico cruceño, 3rd edition. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Santa Cruz. p. 54.
  9. 1 2 3 Connolly, J.D.; Hill, R.A. (1991). Dictionary of Terpenoids. 1. CRC Press. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9780412257704.
  10. ↑ Bajaj, Y. P. S. (2012). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants IV. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 164. ISBN 9783642770043.

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