acerola or barbados cherry, the edible fruit of Malpighia glabra, of the genera Bunchiosa and Malpighia of the family Malpighiaceae. The fleshy red stone fruits, about the size of a cherry, contain very high amounts of vitamin C and are eaten fresh, used to make jams and jellies, and are an important commercial source of natural vitamin C. Acerola is often cultivated as an ornamental shrub, particularly in the southeastern United States. Acerola is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Polygalales, family Malpighiaceae.

Acerola (Malpighia glabra) or Acerolla, also known as Barbados cherry or wild crapemyrtle, is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae. It ranges from southern Texas south through Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru and Bahia in Brazil. It is also cultivated in India. It grows to 3 m tall, with a dense, thorny crown. The leaves are evergreen, simple ovate-lanceolate, 5-10 cm long, with an entire margin. The flowers are produced in umbels of 2-5 together, each flower 1-1.5 cm diameter, with five pink or red petals.

The fruit is bright red, 1.5-2 cm diameter, containing 2-3 hard seeds. It is juicy, often as much sour as sweet in flavor, and very high in vitamin C and other nutrients.

Cultivation and uses

The fruit is edible and widely consumed in the species' native area, and is cultivated elsewhere for its high vitamin C content.

In the 1950s, a manufacturer of baby food decided that apple juice was milder for infants than orange juice. The company claimed that a drop of acerola juice in an 8 oz. can of apple juice provided the amount of vitamin C of an equal amount of orange juice. A detailed nutrition facts analysis shows Acerola juice does contain 32 times the amount of vitamin C in orange juice (over 3000% as much) supporting the claim.

In Puerto Rico, the acerola is so prized that custom officials exercise considerable precaution to prevent exporting of acerola cuttings.

In July 2008, Absolut Vodka announced its second product in a limited-edition series, Absolut Los Angeles, with acerola used as one of a combination of four flavors for the spirit. Açai, pomegranate and blueberry are also used.

Acerola flavour is also used in Tic Tac dragées.

Other uses

For many years, Acerola has been a popular bonsai subject. The best acerola bonsai have been cultivated in Taiwan, where it has become a very common plant in bonsai circles.

References

External links

• University of Florida: Acerola
• Columbia Encyclopedia entry on Acerola