Bromelia karatas is a species of tropical plants in the Bromeliaceae family, widely distributed from the Caribbean to Central and South America. Its edible fruit is consumed by humans in fruit juice or raw.
Bromelia karatas is a species of tropical plants in the Bromeliaceae family, widely distributed from the Caribbean to Central and South America. Its edible fruit is consumed by humans in fruit juice or raw.
The species is hemicryptophyte. It occurs in rosettes with short and robust stems which reproduces by runners or seedlings. The leaves are 2 to 3 meters in length and 4 to 6 centimeters in width. Strong thorns are arranged on the edge of the blade. The flowers are sessile.
The spindle-shaped greyish-yellow to red fruit is 4 to 8 centimeters in length, contains very many small black seeds in a white juicy flesh
Food use
The species is widely found in the wild but is also cultivated in hedges. Its red-skinned fruit with a flavor similar to that of the best-known species of Bromeliaceae, pineapple or Ananas comosus, is eaten raw or in fruit juice. Due to its high bromelina content, the fruit is susceptible to attack the mucous membranes of the mouth.
The fruit is known by many names, especially in Venezuela (camburito, chigüichigüe, curibijil, quiribijil, curujujul or cuscuta), in Mexico (cocuixtle, jocuiste or jocuixtle, timbiriche, timbirichi, in Cuba (maya cimarrona, maya piñon, maya de ratón), in Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela as piñuela, in Puerto Rico as piña de cuervo, in Portuguese as caraguata, carauata, coroata, croata and in French as carata , karatas, “penguin pineapple” 4 or even penguin bayyonnet.
In Mexico, especially Chiapas and the Hidalgo, the fruit is known as timbiriche and the fruit juice common in popular markets as agua de sabor. In the state of Jalisco, the fruit is known by several names, including piñuela, cocuixtle, or jocuixtle, and is eaten raw or used as the base for a taco sauce. It is also consumed in the state of Zacatecas where it is imported from Jalisco. In Peru, the juice is sucked directly from the fruit.
<h2 class=""><strong>Velvet raisin, wild currant, seeds (Grewia flava)</strong></h2>
<h2><span style="color: #ff0000;"><strong>Price is for a package of 10 seeds.</strong></span></h2>
<div>Grewia flava is a hardy shrub or small tree, 2–4 m tall. The grey bark on the young branches, which is usually covered with thick-growing but quite short hairs, tends to turn dark grey and becomes smooth the older the tree gets; this is also noticeable on the stems. The greyish-green leaves are alternately arranged and are covered in fine hairs and it appears to be a lighter shade of green on the underside of the leaves. The apex (tip of the leaves) is rounded, whereas the margin is serrated. Three conspicuous veins from the leaf base are characteristic of this tree; a 2 mm long leaf stalk is also very noticeable.</div>
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<div>The flowers appear in branched heads from early summer until mid-autumn (October to March) and are about 10–15 mm in diameter.</div>
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<div>The 2-lobed fruit is ± 8 mm in diameter, green, turning reddish-brown when ripe. The sapwood appears to be light and the hardwood is brown, with a fine texture.</div>
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<div>The leaves and fruits are enjoyed by domestic stock, as well as wild animals such as Kudu and Giraffe and a large variety of birds.</div>
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<h3><strong>Uses</strong></h3>
<div>The bark of the brandybush was often used to manufacture rope. The fruits are still used to enhance a kind of brandy or ‘mampoer’. The sweet vitamin C-enriched fruit can be enjoyed on its own as well. Traditionally porridge was prepared from the dried fruit after processing it into flour. The wood is hard and fine-grained and is used for sticks. Earlier hunters, like the San community, used to make their bows and arrows from the branches of this plant.</div>
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<h3><strong>Growing Grewia flava</strong></h3>
<div>This plant will grow best in well-drained soil and in a full sun position. It is quite safe to be planted near paved areas in the domestic garden, seeing that it does not have an aggressive root system. Because of the abundance of flowers, it can be successfully used as a focal point in the garden.</div>
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<div>The plant is quite hardy and can withstand frost. Over-watering should be avoided when the plant is established.</div>
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<div>The best propagation method is by seeds. Select fresh seeds, clean them and dry them in a well-ventilated shady area. Soak the seeds in water for at least 24 hours, the initial water must be hot water. Sow the seeds in seedling trays and cover it about 5 mm deep; use only river sand as the growth medium. Place the trays in a warm sheltered area. Do not let the growing medium dry out. A constant moisture level needs to be maintained for successful germination. The germination of the seeds is usually inconsistent, a success rate of about 50–70 % has been observed. Seedlings can be planted out into containers when they reach the 2-leaf stage.</div>