Jabuticaba Tree

       Jabuticaba-The Tree that Fruits on its Trunk

            No, this  is not a belated April Fools prank.  They  look as if they may have been pinned there by an  over enthusiastic gardener to impress the  neighbors, but the fruit of the Jabuticaba  really does grow off the trunk of the  tree.

        Otherwise  known as the Brazilian Grape Tree,  this  plant is native to South America,  notably   Paraguay , Argentina and (obviously from its  name)  mostly from    Brazil . The  fruit, a succulent looking purple color,  can  be plucked and eaten straight from the  tree.

        It is also  a popular ingredient in jellies  and is  also juiced to make a refreshing summer  drink.  What is more,  it can be  fermented and made into wine and strong  liquor.  After  three days off the  tree the fermentation will begin, so sometimes,  there  is no choice; honestly.

         If you  want one of these in your garden, then you have  to be patient.  The tree takes an age to  grow, but once  it reaches maturity it is  worth it.  However, it has proven to be  very adaptable and, although it prefers moist  and slightly acid soils, it will even grow well  in an alkaline type soil.

       The  flowers themselves appear on the tree at   most twice a year naturally.   They look like some strange  alien creature  that has deposited itself on the trunk and  branches. The  habit of flowers doing this  makes them cauliflorous. Instead of   growing new shoots, these plants flower direct  from the woody trunk or  stem.

            You might  ask why it is this way.  The  simple  answer is that it has evolved in this manner so  that animals that  cannot climb very high  can reach it, eat it and then expel the seeds  away  from the parent tree to further  propagate the species.

        If the  tree is well irrigated then it will  flower  and fruit all the year round.  The fruit  itself is about four  centimeters in  diameter and has up to four large seeds.   As well as  being used as food, the skins  can be dried out and used to treat asthma   and diarrhea.

           If your  tonsils are swollen you can also use  it to  try and alleviate the inflammation.  It is  also hoped that the  tree will be useful in  the fight against cancer, as several  anti-cancer  compounds have been found in  the fruit.

       Altogether a useful  tree,  if a slightly strange looking  one.

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