Malpighia glabra & M. emarginata.
Family Malpighiaceae.
Both species are known as Acerola.
M. glabra is also known as Barbados Cherry and M. emarginata as West Indian cherry.
Both are occasionally seen in cultivation in Australia.
They are shrubs or small trees with spreading branches.
Commonly 2 to 3 m high they can reach 6 m.
The opposite, ovate to elliptic leaves are up to 8 cm long by 4 cm wide.
On a short petiole they are glossy and may have a flat or wavy margin.
(The description for M. emarginata mentions hairs on the leaves and the specimen
of M. glabra in the Mt. Coot-tha Gardens also has them.)
Inflorescences are small axillary clusters of up to 5 flowers.
The flowers, on short or no stalks, are up to 2 cm across.
There are 5 sepals with up to 10 large glands externally.
The 5 petals have a narrow base (clawed) and a ruffled edge.
They are pale to deep pink or red and fade to white.
The bases of the 10 stamens are joined.
The fruit are drupes that mature from green to a bright red.
They are around 2 cm across and contain 3 triangular, ridged seeds.
The fruit are edible.
The difference between the species is said to be in the flowers.
J.F.
