I found this fruit growing on the side of my Mums greenhouse here in Jamaica. It seems to be edible (we haven't suffered any ill effects but I just want to make sure) but no one has been able to identify it. It grows on a vine , but the fruit are quite stange as they have leaves growing out the side. The berries are only about 2cm in diameter. Does anyone recognise this ?and can you tell me a bit more about this plant and its applications.
Hello Jacqui62, That is most unusual. I have flipped through images on several rare tropical fruit websites, but did not see anything like that. Sorry I can't ID it, but I am fascinated and look forward to reading more about the plant once it is identified. It does not look like a true fruit in the botanical sense. Have you seen any flowers on the plant.
Yes it flowers in November /December according to my Mum. She says it is a cluster of delicate white flowers which are very fragrant. I have never seen these flowers as don't live with my parents . As the fruit becomes more ripe the "leaves"fall off . I'm not sure its origin as she bought it at a Horticultural show a few years ago . One thing which I observed about its leaves is that they are smooth and glossy. I don't know if that tells you anything.
Here is a composite of different views of the fruit. I notice that where the leaves are attached to the side of the fruit there are actually fibres(on the interior of the fruit) which seem to go toward the seeds
This is an unusual fruit. It may be a 'volunteer' as we used to call a cross that happens naturally in nature. I am curious, you said you have eaten it? What does it taste like? What consistency is the flesh of the fruit? From the photo, it is hard to see what the seeds look like. Is there one big seed or several smaller ones? They appear to be black. It looks like a cross between an apricot and a cherry tomato. I do not have any degrees or very much background in botany, but have hunches that are sometimes true. I did have a class in botany and some classes in horticulture many years ago. If I were you, I would try to preserve the seeds and see if you can grow more. I would also register the plant (or whatever the correct legal procedure is) so no one can take the credit for finding a new species. This might be a valuable plant. F.Y.I. Starriepath
Aren't there some fruit that will have some of the seeds sprout inside the fruit? Maybe that is what is going on. It certainly is strange looking. If no one can figure it out here you could try asking the people at California Rare Fruit Growers, maybe they would know. http://www.crfg.org/frtspec.html
The skin of the fruit is like a thick skinned grape. The flavour (to those of my friends intrepid enough to try it on my paltry assurances that i have eaten several and haven't died as yet) is reported to be somewhat tomato like.I'm not entirely convinced though, as I find that there is a slight hint of cherry and hog plum.It is tart, but pleasant. The texture of the pulp is again somewhat grapelike when ripe (a bit softer) There are about 3-4 flat black seeds Ive set a few of the fruit outside in a pot to see what happens and am drying a few of the seeds. Otherwise I'll ask my Mum to try to circumpose a plant , or set one with some rooting powder so that we can have another .
I do hope we can find out what it is. Looks like a succulent. I do feel a responsibility to point out that we should never eat any plants we cannot identify. It is too risky - sometimes even just a taste can cause serious poisoning.
Unfortunately when it was sold to my mother at a horticultural show , she was told it was edible & she has been making a juice with it for years ...and luckily has lived to tell the tale. I ate it based on the fact that she had survived ingesting it. (in fact it was sold to her as a type of "gooseberry") With a succulent aren't the leaves fairly thick...these are not thick enough and the stems feel fairly fibrous
Thanks for clarifying that it was obtained as an edible - it's just one of those things, you know, people from all over read the forums and I don't want people to sample things unknowingly. If plants have cultural history as food, it is of course safe to try, being cautious of allergic reaction by starting small. This is one of those FYI disclaimer issues. I am quick to sample any new (purported) edible. Always interested in new botanical culinary adventure.
Don't worry I understand ....I've banned my kids from sampling any more of the berries till I am sure exactly what this plant is. I have even held off cooking with it till I am sure that it is safe.(..had plans of experimenting and making a Jam or pie). It is very good advice not to eat what you can't identify. And even with things that you can identify you must ensure that you know how to prepare it (e.g. in Jamaica Ackee, which is toxic if it is picked before the pods open naturally or the bitter cassava, which needs the toxic juices removed before using it to make the traditional Jamaican flatbreads called bammies)
It's making me think of the family Solanaceae, the tomato family. Here is a link to the "Plants for a Future Database' for that family, maybe it is in there somewhere.
"The fruits are generally stewed or preserved with sugar, or made into jam. Young shoots and leaves are cooked and eaten as greens. In rural Brazil, they are important as food for humans and livestock" http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/barbados_gooseberry.html#Food Uses
Thank you for putting me out of my misery on this one, Ron. I puzzled over it for an overly long time. Pereskia aculeata, it is (a member of the cactus family).
I thought somebody else came up with the ID earlier in the thread, I was just following on with some additional about the edibility. Where did their post go?
Thanks very much ....Its good to know the name and my mum will be thrilled.Its not terribly common herein Jamaica. Thanks again
Nope, you're imagining things as far as I can tell. I haven't looked through all my email notifications from the weekend, but I didn't spot any that had identified it and subsequently disappeared.
This is where I saw it identified by someone else. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/namegal/msg0117523310991.html?5
Yes I had originally posted on a food forum asking if they knew what it was and the applications ...when we realised we were stumped , we posted on any site that seemed to have the expertise. BTW it makes a lovely Jam.
