Melicoccus quenepe is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Phylogeny of Melicoccus based on morphological traits, showing the placement of M.

The genus Melicoccus was first described by Patrick Browne, an Irish physician and botanist, in 1756. This description was based on M. In 1760, Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin described the first species in Browne’s genus, which he named M. In 1888 German taxonomist Ludwig Radlkofer placed Melicoccus in the tribe Melicocceae together with eight other genera. The specific epithet bijugatus refers to the bijugate leaves, leaves which consist of two pairs of leaflets.

Melicoccus bijugatus is native to northern South America and naturalised in coastal and dry forest in Central America, the Caribbean and parts of the Old World tropics. They are typically dioecious plants, however autogamous trees occur from time to time. Flowers have four petals and eight stamens and produce void, green drupes which are 2. When ripe, the fruits have a bittersweet, wine-like flavour and have mild laxative properties. They are extremely rich in iron and phosphorus.

The seed, being slippery, is a potential choking hazard. Fruits mature in the dry season or summer. The main use of the mamoncillo is its sweet fruits, which are consumed fresh or canned, and can also be used in the preparation of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. It can produce a strong yellow dye, although it is rarely used for this purpose. When roasted, it resembles cashew nuts.

The indigenous peoples of the Orinoco river consume them as a substitute for cassava, and in Nicaragua, they are ground and made into horchata as a cure for parasites. The wood of the tree is pale, dense and moderately heavy with a fine grain, and is used for construction, carpentry, and fine cabinetmaking. However, it is not particularly durable, so its use is limited to indoors. The leaves are used in various traditional medicinal preparations, and also used as pest deterrents. The species is also commonly planted along roadsides as an ornamental tree. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. Hortus third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada.

The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. Exotic Fruits and Nuts of the New World. Celebra Ponce a su mimada quenepa. Entre mañas e infortunios para un dulce desenlace.

Rinden homenaje a la quenepa en Mercado Urbano de Ponce: La quenepa, un popular fruto de la Región Sur, será la protagonista en esta edición. Melicoccus bijugatus is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Sapindaceae, native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Phylogeny of Melicoccus based on morphological traits, showing the placement of M. The genus Melicoccus was first described by Patrick Browne, an Irish physician and botanist, in 1756. This description was based on M.

In 1760, Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin described the first species in Browne’s genus, which he named M. In 1888 German taxonomist Ludwig Radlkofer placed Melicoccus in the tribe Melicocceae together with eight other genera. The specific epithet bijugatus refers to the bijugate leaves, leaves which consist of two pairs of leaflets. Melicoccus bijugatus is native to northern South America and naturalised in coastal and dry forest in Central America, the Caribbean and parts of the Old World tropics. They are typically dioecious plants, however autogamous trees occur from time to time.

Flowers have four petals and eight stamens and produce void, green drupes which are 2. When ripe, the fruits have a bittersweet, wine-like flavour and have mild laxative properties. They are extremely rich in iron and phosphorus. The seed, being slippery, is a potential choking hazard. Fruits mature in the dry season or summer. The main use of the mamoncillo is its sweet fruits, which are consumed fresh or canned, and can also be used in the preparation of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. It can produce a strong yellow dye, although it is rarely used for this purpose.