Monographs Details:
Authority:
Popenoe, Wilson. 1924. Economic fruit-bearing plants of Ecuador. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 24: i-ix, 101-134. pl. 34-49.
Popenoe, Wilson. 1924. Economic fruit-bearing plants of Ecuador. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 24: i-ix, 101-134. pl. 34-49.
Family:
Rosaceae
Rosaceae
Description:
Description - The capulí is a stout tree up to 12 or 14 meters in height, with oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, finely serrate leaves from 7.5 to 12.-3 cm. long. The flowers, which are produced in slender racemes 7.5 to 20 cm. long, are white, and about 2 cm. broad. The fruits resemble the European cherry in appearance; they are oblate or nearly spherical, 1 to 2 cm. in diameter, deep purplish maroon when fully ripe, with a thin, tender skin surrounding the greenish flesh and the single hard seed. The flavor and quality of the fruit, as also the size, vary greatly. As commonly seen, the capulí is not over a centimeter in diameter, and its flavor is slightly bitter. In several regions there are, however, superior forms that are worthy of vegetative propagation. Some of the best are those of Cuenca and Ambato. At Catiglata, near the latter town, there is a famous tree whose fruit is large, very juicy, and as sweet and pleasant as the best European cherries.
Description - The capulí is a stout tree up to 12 or 14 meters in height, with oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, finely serrate leaves from 7.5 to 12.-3 cm. long. The flowers, which are produced in slender racemes 7.5 to 20 cm. long, are white, and about 2 cm. broad. The fruits resemble the European cherry in appearance; they are oblate or nearly spherical, 1 to 2 cm. in diameter, deep purplish maroon when fully ripe, with a thin, tender skin surrounding the greenish flesh and the single hard seed. The flavor and quality of the fruit, as also the size, vary greatly. As commonly seen, the capulí is not over a centimeter in diameter, and its flavor is slightly bitter. In several regions there are, however, superior forms that are worthy of vegetative propagation. Some of the best are those of Cuenca and Ambato. At Catiglata, near the latter town, there is a famous tree whose fruit is large, very juicy, and as sweet and pleasant as the best European cherries.
Discussion:
The botany of this interesting and valuable fruit tree has long been in confusion. Recently Blake has gone over the material available in the herbaria at Washington and has reached the conclusion that the capuli or capulin, grown from Mexico to Peru and Chile, is a cultivated southern form of the northern black cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrh., which occurs as a wild plant from Nova Scotia to Mexico. Other botanists have considered it to be distinct, and it is often mentioned in literature under the name Prunus salicifolia H. B. K. or Prunus capuli Cav.
The botany of this interesting and valuable fruit tree has long been in confusion. Recently Blake has gone over the material available in the herbaria at Washington and has reached the conclusion that the capuli or capulin, grown from Mexico to Peru and Chile, is a cultivated southern form of the northern black cherry, Prunus serotina Ehrh., which occurs as a wild plant from Nova Scotia to Mexico. Other botanists have considered it to be distinct, and it is often mentioned in literature under the name Prunus salicifolia H. B. K. or Prunus capuli Cav.
Common Names:
capulí
capulí