Malpigiaceae

Native: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Guianas, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.

Systematic Position

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Streptophyta

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Malpighiaceae

Common Names

English – Peanut Butter Fruit

Malayalam – കപ്പലണ്ടി വെണ്ണപ്പഴം

Description: Evergreen tree grow up to 4-15m in height. Leaves are simple, oppositely arranged with wawy margine, 13-18cm long and 7-9.5cm Inflorescence panicle, 7-11cm long with about 15-35 yellow flowers. Fruit 1.5-2.5cm long and wide, orange to red orange.

Distribution:  Cultivated in several tropical countries.

Uses: The small orange-red fruits with pleasant taste similar to that of peanut butter are edible. Cultivated as an ornamental plant. Used in soothing aches and help digestion.