Muntingia calabura / Muntingia rosea - Cotton Candy Berry, Calabur Tree, Capulin, Festival Berry, Jamaica Cherry, Panama Berry Seeds

Description

Muntingia calabura is a fast-growing, evergreen tree that can reach 7 to 12 m in height, with a wide, spreading crown. The leaves are simple, oblong, and serrated, with a soft, velvety texture. It produces small, star-shaped, white flowers that bloom throughout the year. The tree is best known for its bright red, cherry-like fruits, about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, which are soft, juicy, and sweet, often compared to cotton candy in flavor. Muntingia is highly adaptable, thriving in poor soils, drought conditions, and urban environments, making it a popular ornamental and fruit-bearing tree in tropical and subtropical regions.