West Indian cherry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids West Indian cherry |
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| Close-up of the blossom and unripe fruit | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Malpighia
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| Species: |
emarginata
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| Synonyms | |
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| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
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| Energy | 134 kJ (32 kcal) |
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7.69 g
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| Dietary fiber | 1.1 g |
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0.3 g
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Protein
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0.4 g
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| Vitamins | Quantity
%DV†
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| Vitamin A equiv. |
5%
38 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) |
2%
0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
5%
0.06 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
3%
0.4 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
6%
0.309 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
1%
0.009 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
4%
14 μg |
| Vitamin C |
2021%
1677.6 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity
%DV†
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| Calcium |
1%
12 mg |
| Iron |
2%
0.2 mg |
| Magnesium |
5%
18 mg |
| Manganese |
29%
0.6 mg |
| Phosphorus |
2%
11 mg |
| Potassium |
5%
146 mg |
| Sodium |
0%
7 mg |
| Zinc |
1%
0.1 mg |
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Link to USDA Database entry
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| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults. | |
Malpighia emarginata is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae.
Common names include acerola cherry, Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry, and wild crepe myrtle. Acerola is native to South America, southern Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil, and Central America, but is now also being grown as far north as Texas and in subtropical areas of Asia, such as India.
It is known for being extremely rich in vitamin C, almost as much as camu camu, although M. emarginata also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3, as well as carotenoids and bioflavonoids, which provide important nutritive value and have antioxidant uses.
Contents
Distribution
Malpighia emarginata is originally from Yucatán, and can be found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America as far south as Peru, and the southeast region of Brazil, and in the southernmost parts of the contiguous United States (southern Florida and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas). In Florida, it can be grown in protected locations as far north as Cape Canaveral. It is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world, including the Canary Islands, Ghana, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Java, Hawaii, and Australia.
Adaptation
Acerola can be propagated by seed, cutting, or other methods. It prefers dry, sandy soil and full sun, and cannot endure temperatures lower than 30 °F/-1 °C. Because of its shallow roots, it has very low tolerance to winds.
Description
Acerola is an evergreen shrub or small tree with spreading branches on a short trunk. It is usually 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) tall, but sometimes reaches 6 m (20 ft) in height.
Leaves
The leaves are simple ovate-lanceolate, 2–8 cm (0.79–3.15 in) long, 1–4 cm (0.39–1.57 in), and are attached to short petioles. They are opposite, ovate to elliptic-lanceolate, and have entire or undulating margins with small hairs, which can irritate skin.
Flowers
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Flowers are bisexual and 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter. They have five pale to deep pink or red fringed petals, 10 stamens, and six to 10 glands on the calyx. The three to five flowers per inflorescence are sessile or short-peduncled axillary cymes.
Fruit
After three years, trees produce significant numbers of bright red drupes 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) in diameter with a mass of 3–5 g (0.11–0.18 oz). Drupes are in pairs or groups of three, and each contains three triangular seeds. The drupes are juicy and very high in vitamin C (300–4600 mg/100g) and other nutrients. They are divided into three obscure lobes and are usually acidic to subacidic, giving them a sour taste, but may be sweet if grown well. While the nutrient composition depends on the strain and environmental conditions, the most common components of acerola and their concentration ranges, per 1000 g, are: proteins (2.1-8.0 g), lipids (2.3-8.0 g), carbohydrates (35.7-78 g), calcium (117 mg), phosphorus (171 mg), iron (2.4 mg), pyridoxine (87 mg), riboflavin (0.7 mg), thiamine (0.2 mg), water (906-920 g), and dietary fibre (30 g).
Uses
As food
The fruit is edible and widely consumed in the species' native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high vitamin C content. About 1677 mg of vitamin C are in 100 g of fruit. The fruit can be used to make juices and pulps, vitamin C concentrate, and baby food, among other things.
A comparative analysis of antioxidant potency among a variety of frozen juice pulps was carried out, including the acerola fruit. Among the 11 fruit pulps tested, acerola was the highest-scoring fruit, meaning it had the most antioxidant potency, with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity score of 53.2 mg.
Other uses
Acerola is a popular bonsai subject because of its small leaf and fruit, and fine ramification. It is also grown as an ornamental and for hedges.
It is one of three ingredients in a proprietary herbal medicine for allergic rhinitis.
Ecology
Malpighia emarginata is a host plant for the caterpillars of the white-patched skipper (Chiomara asychis), Florida duskywing (Ephyriades brunneus), and brown-banded skipper (Timochares ruptifasciatus). Larvae of the acerola weevil (Anthonomus macromalus) feed on the fruits, while adults consume young leaves. Pollination by wild insects is known to increase the fruit yield.
See also
In Spanish: Malpighia emarginata para niños
