GABIROBA
(Campomanesia xanthocarpa)

A tree of gabiroba

Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms: Campomanesia malifolia, Campomanesia crenata

Other names: Guabiroba, Guariba,

Gabiroba is a fruit from tropical South America.  It is believed to be a native to Atlantic forests from Espirito Santo through Rio do Sul, Brazil.

Fruiting in gabiroba

            The small guava like fruits of gabiroba are like very much by the local people.  Though its trees are not planted on commercial scale, still people at the country side do like to have a tree or two of gabiroba in their home compounds for family use.

Description:

A semi-deciduous tree, 4-15 m tall.

Leaves of a gabiroba tree

            Leaves glabrous but having a tuft of hairs at the axils of main nerves on ventral side.

Gabiroba flowers

            Flowers borne singly, calyx oblong-obovate, corolla white and frilly.

            Fruit yellow, looking like a small guava, pulp firm, sweet.

Utilization:

Gabiroba fruits are eaten fresh and are liked by people. These are also made into juices, ice creams, liqueurs and sweets.

Ripe fruits of gabiroba

Cultivation:

Gabiroba is not cultivated commercial on orchard scale.  However, one of two trees are planted in home gardens for their own use by people in villages.

            New trees are raised from seed only.