Barbados cherry
Family Malpighiaceae
Malpighia glabra (= Malpighia punicifolia), the Barbados cherry (M. glabra 1), is a dense shrub, 2-5 m high, with opposite shiny and dark green simple leaves, and pink or red flowers in axillary inflorescences, each flower with 5 petals and 10 stamens. The fruit is a bright red and juicy drupe, 1-3 cm in diameter (M. glabra 2), resembling cherries, containing 3 seeds.
Distribution
The Barbados cherry is a native of the West Indies and northern South America, and has been introduced into many tropical and subtropical countries.
Use
The acid fruits are made into preserves and jellies. Barbados cherries are one of the richest sources of vitamin C and for that reason the juice is used commercially to enrich other fruit juices which are low in vitamin C. The fruit is also used medicinally.