Violets - Order Malpighiales

Star Gooseberry

This tree-like shrub, thought native to Madagascar, was formerly listed as a Spurge (family Euphorbiaceae). It is completely unrelated to actual gooseberries which are in a totally different order, Saxifragales.

This berry is now grown mainly in Southeast Asia, and judging from the number of brands of pickled ones available in my local Asian markets it is quite popular there. Some are grown in Hawaii for local consumption. Since introduction to Jamaica, it has managed to spread through the Caribbean and to Central and South America. The photo shows pickled ones up to 7/8 inch diameter, 5/8 inch high and weighing 8 to the ounce. They are crisp, quite tart but tempered with sugar, and have a single stone (shown to left in photo). They are also cooked with sugar until they turn red and are used to make jelly, or can be crushed for juice used to make beverages.

Bignay

This genus of about 100 species is endemic to Southeast Asia, Queensland Australia, southern China and as far east as Hawaii, with at least one species in Nigeria (probably introduced through trade with South / Southeast Asia). They range from short shrubs to trees nearly 100 feet high. The fruits, about 0.4 inch diameter, are edible but a little hard to harvest because bunches don't ripen evenly. They are sour and astringent when white, sour when red, and sweet-tart when fully ripened to black.   Photo of A. platyphyllum by Forest and Kim Starr distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported, attribution required, notification appreciated.

Bishop's Wood

This substantial tree (to 75 feet) is native to South and Southeast Asia and to Australia and Polynesia as well as Taiwan and the southern half of China. An attractive shade tree, it has become invasive in southern Florida, Southern California, and Caribbean Islands. Female trees bear clusters of berries about .35 inch (9 mm) diameter which can be brown, reddish or blue-black when ripe.

The fruit is fermented into wine. The seeds are edible and contain about 40% oil, but that oil is used mainly as a lubricant rather than in cooking. Young leaves are eaten in Laos, dipped in chili sauce, or cooked as a vegetable or used in salads. Roots and bark are used medicinally.   Photo by Wie146 distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Indian Gooseberry

Native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, this medium size tree (up to 59 feet) bears greenish yellow spherical fruit, between 1 and 2 inches diameter with a single small stone in the center. The fruit is firm, sour, somewhat bitter, astringent and fibrous, and very high in vitamin C. It is not available fresh in Southern California, but Indian markets here have it as dried pieces and dried powder, under the name Amla.

To eat this fruit fresh, it is steeped in salt water and turmeric or chili, but it is more commonly salt pickled with oil and spices, particularly in southern India where the preserves are popular with dal. In northern India the fruits are given a very long soak in sugar syrup, then incorporated into deserts. The fruit, fresh or dried, is used as a souring agent, sometimes as a substitute for Tamarind. In Indian recipes it is also a common standard descripter for the size of a lump of Tamarind pulp. Various parts of this tree are also of significant medicinal value, with research ongoing.   Photo by Chong Fat distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Baccaurea

These mid-size trees (40 feet or so) are native from India through Malaysia. They bear fruit on long strings that sprout directly from the tree trunks and branches. Fruit can range from 3/4 inch to 2 inches diameter and is usually orange when ripe, but Burmese Grape fruit may be yellow through bright red to purple and between 1 and 1.4 inches diameter.

The taste of these fruits is sweet and tangy, with Tampol being similar to tangerines in flavor. Rambai is cultivated for fruit in Thailand and Malaysia. The fruits are fairly perishable and are often salt pickled for storage. They are also fermented into wine or made into jams. Bark, roots and wood are used medicinally.   Photo of Tampol distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Nance

This medium size (to 33 feet) drought tolerant tree is native from central Mexico down to Brazil, and on most islands in the Caribbean. It is found from sealevel to 6000 feet. This fruit is eaten raw and cooked in desserts. It is also used as a flavoring in various alcohohlic and non-alcoholic beverages, and is cooked in sugar and water to make a candy. They are somewhat sweet, not tart, and have an unusual aromatic flavor. The photo specimens were between 0.7 and 0.9 inch diameter and weighed about 5 to the ounce.

Barbados Cherry

This small tree, native to Andean South America from Columbia to Peru, including Venezuela and western parts of Brazil, can grow to 20 feet, but is usually less than 10 feet high. It is now grown in the tropics and subtropics in many countries around the world, and as far north as southern Florida and the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas. The bright red fruit ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 inches diameter and contains three triangular seeds. It is very high in vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. They range from sour to sweet depending on growing conditions. The fruit is eaten fresh and as juice and pulp in it's native range, and grown for vitamin C in most non-native regions.   Photo by Mateus Hidalgo taken in Brazil distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Brazil.

Peanut Butter Fruit

These three very similar Bunchosia species are small to medium size trees native to Andean South America, commonly growing to about 25 feet high. The orange fruits are about 1 inch long, with dense flesh resembling dried figs or peanut butter, with an unmistakable peanut butter scent. Most are eaten fresh, but they can be made into preserves. Apparently B. glandulifera is often mislabeled as B. argentea and is the most commonly grown species in North America and much of South America.   Photo of Bunchosia argentea by Asit K. Ghosh distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Cocoplum

Native to the tropical Americas and Caribbean, including southern Florida and the Bahamas, this large shrub can grow over 20 feet tall. Fruit of the coastal variety can be as large as 2 inches diameter, and is usually light yellow with a pink blush, but it can also be dark purple. Fruit of the inland variety is usually 1 inch diameter and dark purple.

The fruit is eaten raw and made into preserves. The seed kernels are also eaten, either raw or roasted. Dried seeds are ground for use in Nigerian Pepper Soup. Opinions on the raw fruit vary from sweet-sour and cottony to soft and sweet. The seed kernels are about 21% oil, which can be pressed and used in place of almond oil, or to make soap and the like. The photo was take in southern Florida.   Details and Cooking.   Photo by Forest and Kim Starr distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported, attribution required, notification appreciated.

Mobola Plum

Native to sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal in the west to Chad and Kenya in the east, and in central Africa south through Zambia and Zimbabwe, this tree grows to 72 feet high. The fruit has traditionally been gathered in the wild, but the tree has potential for cultivation. The fruit is quite delicious and the seeds have a high oil content suitable for cooking. Aside from being eaten out of hand, the fruit pulp is crushed for use in various beverages, and is fermented into alcoholic beverages.   Photo by Hans Hillewaert distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Others

• Nonda Plum:   [Nunda Plum; ] Native to northern Australia and New Guinea. Fruits are harvested in the wild.
• Guinea Plum:   [Parinari excelsa] Native to mountains of Africa (Guinea and Liberia) between 3000 and 6000 feet, this tree grows to 170 feet. Fruit are yellow, ovoid, very aromatic and about 1-1/2 inches long. The pulp is used to make alcoholic beverages, jams and jellies, and may be boiled with peanuts to make a sauce. Considered not quite as good as Mobola Plum (see above).
• Castanha-de-cutia:   [Aciola edulis] This tree grows in only a small region of Amazonian Brazil, but is prolific in that region. The fruit is edible as well as the kernel. Oil is pressed from the kernel.

Pequi

This small tree (to 30 feet high) is native to west central Brazil, where the fruit it bears is quite popular. The fruit are round to oval and about 3 inches diameter, turning bright orange when ripe. They contain 1 to 4 segments in which the same number of seeds are surrounded by an edible pulp. The pulp has a strong taste and aroma described as sweet, fruity and cheesy. It is both eaten raw and cooked as an ingredient in recipes, particularly with rice and chicken. It is also used as an ingredient in beverages.

The seeds have a lot of prickly spines, which can be scraped off after drying for a few days. The nuts are cracked open and the kernels are roasted with salt and eaten as a snack. Unfortunately this tree is now under pressure due to land clearing for logging, and the planting of eucalyptus, so it is becoming scarce.   Photo © Denis A. C. Conrado. Permission granted for use provided it is properly attributed.

Pecia Nut

This large tree (to 115 feet high) is native to Costa Rica, south through Columbia and Venezuela to northern Brazil. It bears large round or pear shaped fruit up to 6 inches diameter and weighing over 6 pounds. These contain 1 to 4 large nut-like seeds, the kernels of which are considered very fine eating with a flavor similar to almonds but sweeter. They are eaten both raw and roasted. An edible non-drying oil can be pressed from them.   Drawing copyright expired.

Mammee Apple

Not to be confused with the Mamey Sapote (Pouteria sapota) the fruit of which is also called mammee or mamey, this tree is native to tropical South America and Central America as well as the West Indies. It is now also grown in West Africa, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Florida. The roughly spherical fruit is up to 8 inches in diameter with 1 to 4 seeds depending on size. The fruit can be eaten in fruit salads but is commonly made into beverages, including alcoholic beverages. In some cases the fruit flesh is soaked in salt water to remove bitterness.   Photo by Fibonacci distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (attribution required).

Nag Kesar

These flower buds are used as a spice in Korkani and Maharashtrian cuisines in India. It is not a strong spice, but has a slightly woody aroma with a vague hint of citrus in the taste. The photo specimens, purchased from an exporter in India, were about 0.15 inch diameter. 2014 US $9.99 per 100 grams (3-1/2 ounces).

Willows

This is a large genus of between 350 and 400 known species - but, sorry, there's nothing at all to eat here. The only culinary application for willows has been for weaving baskets to carry food in. They are, however, noted medicinals, some species containing significant amounts of salicin, source material for the salicylic acid in aspirin. Back in the days of my childhood we made whistles from willow branches. The bark could be pushed off, the wood carved as needed and the bark pushed back into place.   Photo by Ugur Basak distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.

Wonder Tree

This large tree (to 50 feet), often planted as a decorative, is native to East Asia, including China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Female trees are heavy producer of long panicles of edible red fruit between 0.2 and 0.4 inch diameter. The fruit is a bit seedy, but edible either raw or cooked. Both male and female trees must be together to produce significant amounts of fruit. This fast growing tree is listed by Plants for a Future.   Photo by Henry Hartley distributed under license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.