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Genipapo

Genipa americana

Description:

It is a small tree growing to 15 m tall. The leaves are opposite, lanceolate to oblong, 20–35 cm long and 10–19 cm broad, glossy dark green, with an entire margin. The flowers are white, yellow or red, with a five-lobed corolla 5–6 cm diameter. The fruit is a thick-skinned edible berry 5–8 cm diameter.

Habitat:

At the Beach of the Caribbean Sea, near Chuspa, Miranda, Venezuela.

Notes:

The Indians paint their skin with the fruit. It reacts to the air and the flesh changes from yellow to a dark blue. They create tattoos on their bodies that look like skin paintings and can last up to two weeks. The term “tattoo” is not the right one to use because a tattoo is permanent and sits beneath the skin. The “tattoos” that are created from the fruit of the Genipap tree are only temporary, even though they still use pigments. The Indians in Guatemala carry fruit in their hands. They believe this will protect them from ill-fortune and diseases. Genipap can be used to treat medical conditions including: bronchitis, asthma, diarrhea, constipation, jaundice, cancer, tumors, inflammation, anemia, catarrh, sore teeth, skin ulcers, liver problems, bug bites, gonorrhea, hydropsy, hepatosis, syphilis, stomachaches, scurvy, poor urination, digestive problems, worms, insect bites, bacterial infections, rheumatism, itchiness, colds, coughs, fevers, sore throats, pharyngitis, venereal disease, high cholesterol and leukemia, It has: abortifacient, anti-inflammatory, intoxicant, laxative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, astringent, antibacterial, antiviral, antibiotic, insect repellant, cosmetic, antioxidant, nutritious and dental anesthetic properties. The American Indians use the dark blue dye produced by the fruit as a body paint. It’s indelible for up to 20 days. The fruit can be cut up and added to water and some sugar to make a lemonade-style drink. Vendors sell a bottled concentrate with shaved ice. It’s commonly used to make ice cream, jams, desserts, sherbet and jelly. Sometimes the flesh is utilized instead of commercial pectin to help in the jelling of low-pectin fruit juice drinks. It’s often used to make sweet preserves, a soft drink, a syrup, a wine and a very potent liqueur. People in Trinidad sometimes plant the Genipap trees as living fence posts in their pasture fences. The ripened fruit can be used as bait for fish. The dye can be used for hammocks, clothing, basket materials and even utensils. The wood of the Genipap tree is hard, compact, elastic, strong, fibrous but not durable as it‘s often attacked by fungi, borers and termites. The natives use it for: spears, tool handles, door frames, cabinet-making, floorboards, packing cases, ammunition chests, sieve frames and rifle stocks. The seeds in the fruit contain caffeine in the amount of 22,500 ppm. Other chemicals that are found in Genipap include: tannins, tannic acid, mannitol, glycerides and a few more. Each 100 gram serve of the fruit has 40 mg calcium, 33 mg vitamin C, 58 mg phosphorus as well as average amounts of vitamin B and iron.

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2 Comments

Muckpuk
Muckpuk 7 years ago

You're welcome LarryGraziano

LarryGraziano
LarryGraziano 7 years ago

We have these in Costa Rica. I never NJ new the genus until now. Thanks

Muckpuk
Spotted by
Muckpuk

Parroquia Caruao, Vargas, Venezuela

Spotted on Jan 22, 2017
Submitted on Feb 8, 2017

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