Macleania popenoei S.F.Blake
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Authority
Popenoe, Wilson. 1924. Economic fruit-bearing plants of Ecuador. Contr. U. S. Natl. Herb. 24: i-ix, 101-134. pl. 34-49.
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Family
Ericaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - This is a shrub, sometimes half-climbing in habit, and reaching about 3 meters in height. Its leaves are variable in form; commonly they are elliptic-lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate-elliptic, sharply acute, thick and somewhat stiff in texture, and from 5 to 10 cm. in length. The reddish, tubular flowers about a centimeter long are produced in dense axillary clusters. They are followed by round fruits a centimeter in diameter, which are soft, juicy, and sweet to the taste.
Uses - It is not cultivated, but the fruit is sometimes gathered from wild plants and eaten out of hand.
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Discussion
Several other species of Macleania occur in the Ecuadorian highlands and yield fruits which are eaten, though not highly esteemed. The names joyapa and salapa are usually applied to them.
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Common Names
joyapa