POUTERIA BULLATA AND POUTERIA CAIMUTO

 

POPULAR NAMES: Abiurana, Guapeva (P. bullata) and abiu or caimito (P. caimito)

 

SAPOTACEAE

 

 

 

INDIGENOUS NAME: Abiu comes from the Tupi-Guarani and means "fruit with tip and abiu + rana means "fruit similar to abiu."

 

Origin: The abiu comes from the Amazonas Forest to Mato Grosso do Norte and on the coast  of Pernambuco to Rio de Janeiro. The abiurana already occurs in the southern Atlantic Forest in the semideciduous forest (which loses its leaves at some season of the year) from São Paulo to Paraná, appearing also in the Cerrado de Minas Gerais and Sul de Goiás, Brazil.

 

Characteristics: The abiu is an evergreen tree, with lactiferous circular trunk dark brown in color, with rounded crown and simple, with glossy 6 to 15 cm long leaves at the tips of the branches. Already the abiurana is a semideciduous tree (which loses leaves in winter) with corrugated trunk (with salient ripples) of rust-brown color and open canopy in the form of jar, the leaves 10 to 25 cm long, the upper glossy and pubescent (covered by the face of lower). Both trees grow to 6 to 20 m (20 to 67 feet) tall, depending on the environment. The flowers are small and appear in the naked branches below the leaves. The fruits of abiu and are glossy with a small acum or tip, while the fruits of abiurana are pubescent (covered of hairs) and rounded.

 

Planted in the site of Frutas Raras: The abiu was planted in october 2000 and Abiurana was planted in August 2001. The abiruina flourished in 2006 and bear fruit the first time in 2007.

 

Tips for growing: Both species can be grown in tropical and subtropical climates. They adapt to any altitude and soil, but is necessary to enrich the soil with enough organic matter and mulch as the plant only found in nature in fertile soil and moist. The abiurana  is resistant to drought and falling temperatures to -4°C (25°F), while the abiu does not resist the frost with temperatures below 0°C (32°).

 

Propagation: Fresh seeds germinate in 30 to 60 days, so the plants begin to fruit in the age of 6 to 8 years. The seedling is slow growing, appreciates the shade make initial (before the second year) and it develops better when watered frequently.

 

Planting: Can be planted in any soil, enriched with organic matter and pH around 5.6.  Space 6 x 6 m  (20  x 20 feet, for the abiu) in places and 8 x 8 m (27 x 27 feet, for the abuirana).  The first species is more suitable for frost-free climates and second species can be grown from the north of Brazil to Rio Grande do Sul. The holes should be filled with 40% organic matter, 2 kg of limestone and 1 kg of ash. After planting water with 20 l of water per week during the first 3 months then only if it has not rained for 30 days.

 

Cultivating: Make only pruning of forming, and remove the branches that are poorly formed or grown into the canopy, allow space between the branches act the way for penetration of the sun. Fertilize with organic compost, can be (8 liters) poultry litter + 50 g of NPK 10-10-10 doubling that amount every year until the 4th year. Distribute the nutrients to 5 cm of depth, distance in circles of 50 cm (1 2/3 feet) from the trunk.

 

Uses: The fruits are consumed only in-natura. The tree is ornamental.

 

Flowering in the site of Frutas Raras: Abiurana - November 2006.

 

Fruiting in the site of Frutas Raras: Abiurana - February 2007.

 

 

 

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