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Today we will tell you about a plant that is included in the top 20 most unusual exotic
plants. This woody plant bears the outlandish name of jaboticaba and belongs to the Myrtle
family. Other names for this species are also known, these are jaboticaba and the Brazilian
grape tree. Many of us have never heard of him at all. However, in its homeland in South
America, this tree is very popular. What surprises him is that the fruits of the
jaboticaba grow directly on the trunks, which looks very unusual. A similar phenomenon is
called caulifloria. This is when the formation of flower buds occurs on the trunk and main
branches, and not at the tips of the branches, as in most fruit. This phenomenon is quite
rare. The trunks and large branches of toadcoats
are simply strewn with spherical, very dark fruits, attracting attention with their unusual
appearance. The tree got its exotic name thanks to turtles who like its ripe berries. Jaboticaba
- in the language of the Tupinamba Indians - "turtle place".
The uniqueness of the plant lies in the fact that the flowers appear directly on the trunk.
They form instead of new shoots. The question may arise, why do these fruits not grow like
on other trees? The answer is simple. Jaboticaba evolved in this manner so that animals that
do not climb trees well could climb high enough to pluck the fruit and spread its seeds further
away from the parent tree. Fruit that has fallen on its own cannot travel far enough,
and all of them will have to germinate in a confined space.
However, due to this arrangement of inflorescences, turtles eating the jaboticaba fruit can get
them without any problems. The method of fruiting, surprising in its availability, ensures the
spread of the plant over long distances. Also, a feature of the plant is the slow growth
of the tree, which does not prevent it from reaching maturity. Some examples are 100 years
old. If you grow this crop from seed, the first crop will appear in 10 to 15 years.
The shoot will begin to bear fruit in 5 years. But breeders have bred hybrids on which berries
are formed in the fourth or sixth year of life. This jaboticaba is distinguished by
the color of the trunk. The bark of the tree is light brown with a pink tint, covered with
gray spots. It is quite thin, which is why it often flakes off.
Juicy berries are sweet and contain many nutrients. But only residents of South America and Southeast
Asia can enjoy the fresh fruits, since they are unsuitable for transportation. Delicious
jam, marmalade, wine and medicinal infusions are made from berries.
The evergreen tree is of industrial importance in the countries of South America (Brazil,
Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, in the north of Argentina). It is grown in Cuba, the Caribbean, the Philippines,
Taiwan, and Portugal. Jaboticaba is only grown commercially in Brazil
and some countries in South America. Its widespread distribution in other countries is hindered
by the exactingness of the climate and air temperature. Also, the slow growth of the
tree and the short shelf life of the fruit make it difficult to increase commercial sales
of jaboticaba in the growing countries. Jaboticaba began its spread throughout the
world in the 20th century. Several varieties of this tree were sent from Brazil to the
United States in 1904, since then the plant has been found not only in the botanical gardens
of the states, but also in personal plots in California and Florida.
In Brazil, red wine is made from juicy fruits that resemble grapes in taste and appearance.
Here the plant acquired its second name: the Brazilian grape tree.
In the wild, jaboticaba reaches a height of 12 m, but grows on plantations up to a maximum
of 5 m. It has a spreading crown with compact glossy oval leaves. In spring they are light
pink and exude a pleasant aroma of myrtle. Later, the foliage turns dark green. Oval-lanceolate
leathery glossy leaves have a width of 1.2 to 2.5 cm, and in length they can reach from
2.5 to 10.5 cm. In the winter season, some of the leaf plates
usually fall off. Twice a year, in May and September, white,
four-petalled flowers with 60 stamens grow directly on the large branches and trunk,
creating an amazing picture. The active flowering period takes several days, during which the
surface of the trunk and branches is almost completely hidden from view. A month later,
fruits begin to ripen on the trunks. Green fruits appear first, but as they ripen,
they turn dark purple and sometimes almost black. The color of the skin allows you to
determine the degree of maturity of the jaboticaba berry, the darker it is, the more the fruit
is ready for use. In the middle of the round fruits, three to
four centimeters in diameter, there are two to four large seeds surrounded by translucent
fragrant pulp. Jaboticaba gives 3-4 harvests per year with
sufficient humidity. At this time, the air is filled with a pleasant myrtle scent.
Ripe fruits are like grapes. It is for the juicy pulp with a translucent jelly-like consistency
of pinkish or white color that these fruits are valued. The berry has a sweet-sour taste
with grape notes, maybe a little astringent. The fruit has a sweet taste but a bitter rind.
If you eat jabotikabu with the skin, then the astringency is felt in the mouth due to
the presence of tannin. Therefore, Brazilians prefer to use the fruit by squeezing the core
out of the shell. It is not suitable for freezing and transportation, because fermentation begins
3 days after harvest. Because of this, sometimes there is simply no choice but to either throw
away the fruit or make an alcoholic drink out of it. Therefore, in Brazil, they learned
to make excellent red wine from fruit.
Jabotikaba learned to grow in pots, as an indoor ornamental plant. For home breeding,
it is best to buy 2-3 grafted hybrid seedlings. 1-3 years of age. If they take root and begin
to develop well, you can leave 1, and give the rest to friends. Hybrids bloom for 4-6
years, and begin to systematically form fruits, decorating the interior of the apartment and
adding a delicate aroma of myrtle notes to the air. Like many other tropical crops, for
normal growth and development, jaboticaba needs partial shade and only in the morning
and evening hours in a small amount of direct sunlight.
Jaboticaba is very picky about leaving. It is worth monitoring the dryness of the earth,
to prevent overdrying the soil. The plant is watered with warm, settled water, but at
the same time avoiding stagnation in the pan. Ornamental jabotikaba is fed with complex
mineral fertilizers. Top dressing is applied once a month based on the age of the plant.
In winter, they give the culture a rest and do not produce nutrition with minerals.
Fresh berries are not sold in Russia. The average cost of seedlings of the jaboticaba
plant under an order from Italy is 10.6 thousand rubles.
Due to the fact that these berries are poorly stored, they serve as raw materials for the
manufacture of marmalade, jelly, desserts. Sauces, preserves, smoothies, and confiture
are also prepared from berries. The peel is used for the deep red coloring of jellies
and wines. Brazilian grapes are used as a prophylactic
agent against cancer. They use fruits known for their haemostatic, immunomodulatory qualities,
for bronchitis, cardiovascular pathologies, and skin lesions.
Due to its vitamin and mineral composition, jaboticab effectively fights infections and
viruses; eliminates inflammation of the tonsils; cleans the bronchi; prevents cell oxidation;
restores strength after illness; removes toxins and heavy metals from the body; prevents diarrhea.
It is also interesting that in Brazil there is a whole city named after this fruit culture
- Jaboticable. And all because thousands of such trees grow in it, literally in all yards
and gardens. During the flowering period, the city resembles a picture from some fantastic
film; it is an incredibly beautiful and mesmerizing sight.
Locals charge millions of guests a fee just to enter Jaboticable. But then the visitors
can pick as many Brazilian grapes as they like. Takeaway fruits, of course, are also
sold, and in huge quantities. Jabotykaba jams and various desserts are very popular in the
world, so they are bought in buckets. In São Paulo, Brazil, many gardeners who grow jaboticaba
charge tourists during the fruiting season and allow them to eat berries in unlimited
quantities. In Brazil, a kilogram of jaboticaba is sold
for 6 reais (our 83 rubles). Of this amount, 1 real is paid to workers who help in the
harvest. In record years, harvests range from 60 to
70 kg of fruit per tree, generating an income of about R $ 200 per tree. The cost of maintaining
the garden is low, only R $ 10 for
cleaning and weed control. Cleaning is done three times
a year. The plant is very popular in Brazil. So, in
the suburbs, when selling land plots, a surcharge is taken for each jabotikaba growing there.
The second city in Brazil where jaboticaba is highly respected is Sabara. This forty-five
thousandth town hosts a festival of this rare fruit every year. Residents of
the city who have jaboticaba growing in their courtyards are provided with discounts on
municipal taxes. The festival is usually held in late November
or early December in the historic city center. The festival lasts for 3 days. During this
time, residents and guests of the city can taste a huge number of different
dishes, purchase handicrafts of local craftsmen, listen to performances of numerous singers
and musical groups. You can also buy jaboticaba seedlings and
fruits here. For a jar of fruit, they ask for 10 reais, which the Brazilians consider
expensive. But the excuse for this is a bad harvest.
The kiosks offer popsicles, sauces, juices, liqueurs, cachasa spirits, wine, cakes, pies,
rolls, jams, candied fruits, jellies of various types, alfahor is Brazilian biscuits, honey
bread, sweets and more that you can't remember. All kiosks also offer tasting.