Ximenia americana L.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

caimito de monte, ciruelo, espino de brujo, huevo de morrocoyo, limoncillo, limoncillo de playa, limoncito, limoracho

Olacaceae, J. G. Garcia. Flora Zambesiaca 2:1. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree up to 5 m. tall, glabrous, usually spiny; branches divaricate or more rarely ascendent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 2–8 × 1–4 cm., oblong-elliptic, obtuse to retuse at the apex, coriaceous; midrib impressed above, prominent below; lateral nerves 3–6 pairs, subinconspicuous on both surfaces; petiole 3–6 mm. long, canaliculate, puberulous or pubescent above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in pedunculate racemose or umbelliform cymes; pedicels 3–7 mm. long; buds ellipsoid or oblong-obovoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4 (5) -lobed, with ± slightly ciliate margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4 (5), 5–10 × 1–2·5 mm., glabrous outside, densely bearded within, apiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8; filaments 2–4 mm. long; anthers 2–4 × 0·4–0·8 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c. 3 × 1·5 mm.; style 1–2 mm. long, columnar, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit c. 2·5 cm. in diam., drupaceous, yellow when ripe, ellipsoid or subglobose, edible.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed c. 1·5 cm. in diam.

Olacaceae, G. Ll. Lucas. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit

Small tree or shrub up to 7 m. high, usually armed with axillary spines; bark greyish-brown to black; young stems never tomentose.

Morphology Leaves

Petiole up to 6 mm. long, canaliculate, usually pubescent on the inner surface; leaf-blade coriaceous, glabrous, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, 3–8 cm. long, 1.5–4 cm. wide, apex obtuse to emarginate, base usually cuneate; midrib prominent beneath, impressed above; lateral veins 3–7 pairs, inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a shortly pedunculate raceme or umbel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white to greenish, fragrant; pedicels 3–7 mm. long, subequal to or shorter than the newly opened flowers; both peduncles and pedicels glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx small, with 4(–5) deltoid lobes, slightly ciliate at the margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4(–5), 5–10 mm. long, 1–2.5 mm. wide, densely pilose on their inner surface, apiculate, recurved when mature.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8; filaments 2–4 mm. long; anthers 2–4 mm. long and up to 0.8 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary superior, 3–4-partite almost to its apex; style up to 3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a globose to ellipsoidal drupe, 2–2.5 cm. in diameter, glabrous, yellow (or rarely orange-red) at maturity; mesocarp pulpy.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed woody, up to 1.5 cm. long and 1.2 cm. wide.

Figures

Fig. 2/1–5.

Distribution

widespread in tropical Africa, Asia and America Hab. Wooded grassland, deciduous and coastal bushland K3 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 U1 U2 U3 U4

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution

Widespread in tropical Africa, Asia and America.

Morphology General Habit

Small tree or shrub up to 7 m high, generally with axillary spines; bark from brown or grey to black; young branches glabrous or almost so

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: petiole up to 6 mm long, grooved and generally pubescent on upper side; blade leathery, glabrous, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or elliptic, 3–8 x 1.5–4 cm, obtuse to emarginate at the apex, generally cuneate at the base; midrib prominent beneath, impressed above

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences shortly pedunculate raceme- or umbel-like cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white to greenish, fragrant; pedicels 3–7 mm long, generally without bracteoles, glabrous or almost so

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx small, with 4(–5) triangular lobes, slightly ciliate at the margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4(–5), 5–10 x 1–2.5 mm, densely pilose inside, apiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 8; filaments 2–4 mm long; anthers 2–4 x up to 0.8 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 2.5–4.3 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a globose or ellipsoidal drupe, up to 2–2.5 cm in diam., glabrous, yellow to red-orange when ripe; mesocarp fleshy

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed woody, up to 1.5 x1.2 cm.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 100 m.; Llanura del Caribe, Pacífico.

Morphology General Habit

Arbusto, árbol

Conservation

No Evaluada

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Caribbean, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–100 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Bolívar, Chocó, Magdalena, Sucre.

Habit

Shrub, Tree.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Caimito demonte, Espino de brujo, Huevo de morrocoyo, Irimáucoro (Cubeo), Limoncillo, Limoncito

Olacaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A glabrous shrub or small tree

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

White fragrant flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

A yellow plum-like fruit

Ecology

Common in the savannah regions but also near the coast.