Genipa americana

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Genipa americana
Genipa americana.jpg
Flower
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Genipa
Species:
G. americana
Binomial name
Genipa americana
Synonyms
List
    • Genipa americana var. caruto K.Schum.
    • Genipa americana var. riobranquensis Kuhlm.
    • Genipa americana f. grandifolia Chodat & Hassl.
    • Genipa americana f. jorgensenii Steyerm.
    • Genipa americana f. parvifolia Chodat & Hassl.
    • Genipa barbata Presl
    • Genipa brasiliana A.Rich.
    • Genipa brasiliensis (Spreng.) Baill.
    • Genipa caruto Kunth
    • Genipa codonocalyx Standl.
    • Genipa excelsa K.Krause
    • Genipa grandifolia Pers.
    • Genipa humilis Vell.
    • Genipa oblongifolia Ruiz & Pav.
    • Genipa oleosa Rojas
    • Genipa pubescens DC.
    • Genipa venosa Standl.

Genipa americana (/ˈdʒɛnɪpə/) is a species of trees in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to the tropical forests of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean.

Description[]

Genipa americana trees are up to 30 m tall and up to 60 cm dbh.[1][2][3] Their bark is smooth with little fissures.[3] The leaves are opposite, obovate, or obovate oblong, 10–35 cm long, 6–13 cm wide, and glossy dark green, with entire margin, acute or acuminate apex, and attenuated base.[1][4][2] The inflorescences are cymes up to 10 cm long.[1] The flowers are white to yellowish, slightly fragrant, calyx bell-shaped, corolla at 2–4.5 cm long, trumpet-shaped, and five- or six-lobed.[1][4][2] The five short stamens are inserted on top of the corolla tube.[4] The fruit is a thick-skinned edible greyish berry 10–12 cm long, 5–9 cm in diameter.[1][4]

Distribution and habitat[]

Genipa americana is native to the tropical forests of the Americas, from tropical Florida south to Argentina.[1][5][6] It is present from sea level up to 1200 m of elevation,[3] although some argue the original native range as being northern South America.[7]

Vernacular names[]

In English, the tree is known as the genip tree /ˈdʒɛnɪp/ and the fruit as genipap /ˈdʒɛnɪpæp/.[8]

Colombia: jagua, caruto, huito;[3][5] Brazil: jenipapo, formerly genipapo;[3] Costa Rica: guaitil, tapaculo;[3] Nicaragua: tapaculo, yigualtí;[3] Mexico: shagua, xagua, maluco;[3][9] Perú: huito, vito;[5] Argentina: ñandipá;[5] Bolivia: bí[10]

Its name has been reconstructed as we'e (*weʔe) in Proto-Tucanoan.[11]

Chemical compounds[]

The following compounds have been isolated from G. americana: genipic acid,[9] genipinic acid,[9] genipin[12] (all three from the fruit) and geniposidic acid (leaves).[9]

Uses[]

The unripe fruit of G. americana yields a liquid used as a dye for tattoos, skin painting and insect repellent.[6]

This species is also cultivated for its edible fruits, which are eaten in preserves or made into drinks, jelly, or ice cream.[6]

The wood is reported to be resistant, strong, and easily worked; it is used in the making of utensils and in construction and carpentry.[2][3]

Gallery[]

  • Tree

  • Leaves and fruits

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Liogier, Alain H. (1985). Descriptive Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands. La Editorial, UPR. p. 97. ISBN 9780847723386.
  2. ^ a b c d Francis, Macbride, J.; E., Dahlgren, B. (1936). "Flora of Peru /". Fieldiana. v.13:pt.6:no.1 [Rubiaceae]: 106.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i López, René; Montero, Martín (2005). "27 - Genipa americana". Manual de identificación de especies forestales con manejo certificable por comunidades (in Spanish). Instituto Amazónico de Investigaciones Científicas "SINCHI". ISBN 9789589759745.
  4. ^ a b c d Food and Fruit-bearing Forest Species: Examples from Latin America. FAO. 1986. pp. 141. ISBN 9789251023723.
  5. ^ a b c d Grandtner, M. M.; Chevrette, Julien (2013). Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780123969545.
  6. ^ a b c Hanelt, Peter; Research, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant (2001). Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: (Except Ornamentals). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1775. ISBN 9783540410171.
  7. ^ Duarte, Odilo; Paull, Robert (2015). Exotic Fruits and Nuts of the New World. CABI. pp. 284–285. ISBN 9781780645056.
  8. ^ "genip, genipap". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  9. ^ a b c d Connolly, J.D.; Hill, R.A. (1991). Dictionary of Terpenoids. 1. CRC Press. pp. 49–50. ISBN 9780412257704.
  10. ^ Coimbra Sanz, Germán (2014). Diccionario enciclopédico cruceño, 3rd edition. Santa Cruz de la Sierra: Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Santa Cruz. p. 54.
  11. ^ Chacon, Thiago (2013). On Proto-Languages and Archaeological Cultures: pre-history and material culture in the Tukanoan Family. In Revista Brasileira de Linguística Antropológica. Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 217–245.
  12. ^ Bajaj, Y. P. S. (2012). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants IV. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 164. ISBN 9783642770043.
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