Bellucia pentamera

{{Taxobox | name = Bellucia pentamera | image = https://d2seqvvyy3b8p2.cloudfront.net/ad09421fbc48b3c7cb2dbc2d44d54e5e.jpg imaged by Rebecca Hilgenhof Rebecca Hilgenhof © Rebecca Hilgenhof | image_caption = Bellucia pentamera | regnum = Plantae | clade = Tracheophytes | clade = Angiosperms | clade = Eudicots | clade = Rosids | ordo = Myrtales | familia = Melastomataceae | genus = Bellucia | species = Bellucia pentamera

A common name given to the Bellucia pentamera is Manzana de Montaña or Mountain Apple. It ranges from the Caribbean and the southern part of Mexico all the way through to the Brazilian Amazon. [1]

Description

    Bellucia pentamera growth habit is a tree or shrub and grows to be 6-8 meters tall. [2] It has opposite pinnate leaves in an ovate shape. It has cauliflory flowers have 5-6 white petals and are scented. The fruits are yellow, fleshy and 25-35mm in diameter. [1] Bellucia pentamera is self-incompatible, a plant that is incapable of accepting pollen from the same plant, there is evidence that shows asexual reproduction [1].

Ecology

B. pentamera grows in humid neotropical areas such as the Caribbean and the rainforests of Brazil. This plant uses pollinators such as bees to pollinate its perennial flowers and is dispersed by animals and insects alike [2]. The seeds need full sunlight otherwise they would perish. B. pentamera are very similar to pioneer species in that sense. They tend to grow on a variety of soils including sand and even limestone [2]. Unfortunately, they have become an invasive species in the forests of Gunung Palung National Park, Indonesia due to logging in the area creating gaps that gave the plant an opportunity to grow. [3]

Cultivation and Uses

Bellucia pentamera is cultivated for its edible fruits. These edible fruits have been used by indigenous group to fight parasite infections. The bark produces a liquid that has been used as an anthelmintic and is given to babies to treat thrush. [2]

References

1. Dillis, C., Marshall, A. J., Webb, C. O., & Grote, M. N. (2018). Prolific fruit output by the invasive tree Bellucia pentamera Naudin (Melastomataceae) is enhanced by selective logging disturbance. Biotropica, 50(4), 598–605. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.12545 2. Mountain Apple. (2019, December 3). PermaTree. https://www.permatree.org/yantza-farm/food-forest/mountain-apple-bellucia-pentamera/ 3. Dillis, C., Marshall, A. J., & Rejmánek, M. (2017). Change in disturbance regime facilitates invasion by Bellucia pentamera Naudin (Melastomataceae) at Gunung Palung National Park, Indonesia. Biological Invasions, 19(4), 1329–1337. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-016-1345-5

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