Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Sapindaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Dioecious tree 10-20 m tall; bark light gray, smooth, with horizontal markings. Leaves with 2 pairs of opposite or subopposite leaflets, petioles and rachis flattened and usually winged; leaflets 4-14 x 2.2-5 cm, elliptic, oblong, ovate, or obovate, chartaceous, glabrous, with stout midvein, the apex acute or obtuse, the base obtuse and usually unequal, the margins entire, slightly wavy; petioles 2.5-7 cm long. Flowers fragrant, in short panicles; calyx with 4 greenish, oblong, glabrous, sepals, 2.2 mm long; petals 5, yellowish, obovate with a narrow base, round apex and ciliate margins, lacking appendages; nectary disk annular, lobed and glabrous; stamens 8, of equal length, ca. 4 mm long in male flowers and 1 mm long in female flowers; ovary glabrous, ellipsoid or ovoid, with 2 uniovular carpels, the style minute, the stigmas bilobed. Berry subglobose or ellipsoid, green, 2-2.3 cm long. Seeds l-(2), 1.5 cm long, covered with a tan, fleshy, edible coat.
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Discussion
Common names: genip, kenep, keneppy tree, quenepa
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Distribution
Widespread throughout the island in moist to semidry areas, especially along roads. Adrian Ruins (A728, A1858). Also on Jost van Dyke, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Virgin Gorda; native to northern South America but commonly planted and naturalized throughout Central America, and the West Indies. Apparently introduced on St. John in the eighteenth century.
Virgin Islands South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| South America| Central America| West Indies|