Capulin
Encyclopedia
Prunus salicifolia known as Capulin, is a species of cherry
. It is similar to the Jamaica cherry. The capulin is often called the capuli, capoli, capulin, or capolin in both Mexico
and Colombia
. While in other parts of these countries and in others, it has the names of cerezo, detse, detze, taunday, jonote, puan, palman, or xengua. In Guatemala
it is called the wild cherry; in Bolivia
it is capuli; in Peru
it is called capulí; and in Ecuador
, it is known as the capuli or black cherry.
, alternate, and aromatic with the shape of a spear head that comes to a point at the top. The leaves are 2 to 7 inches (6–18 cm) long, dark green and glossy on the top side, and pale on the underside; while new leaves tend to be a rosy color. The leaves are thin and have finely-toothed edges. The flowers begin as slender buds with one or more leaves at the base of the bud. When they open, the flower is 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) wide with white petals and a conspicuous tuft of yellow stamens. The fruit has a heavy aroma and is round, but very small(ranging from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch (1–2 cm)wide. The skin of the Capulin is red or nearly-black, rarely white or yellowish, with a smooth, thin, tender skin. The juicy pulp is a pale-green and is sweet or slightly acidic, but all of the flavors blend together as a medley of an agreeable and edible pulp. There is a single pit with a very bitter kernel.
. It grows naturally at elevations between 4000 and 11,000 feet (1200–3400 m). The tree blooms from January to March in Mexico; where as in Guatemala and El Salvador, the flowers appear from January to May. The Capulin will ripen in July and August in Mexico. In Guatemala the Capulin will appear and ripen between May and September; while in El Salvador, the fruiting season extends from December through April.
Flowers-The flowers are visited by honeybees and pollinated.
Wood-The sapwood is yellow with hints of red. The heartwood is a reddish-brown color, fine grained, very hard, strong, and durable. The heartwood is used for furniture, interior paneling, cabinets, and general carpentry. Mature, old roots are used for carving tobacco pipes, figurines, and other fine wooden objects.
Medical Uses-A syrup is made from the Capulin to help with respiratory problems and troubles. When the leaves are boiled, they can be given to reduce fever and to halt diarrhea and dysentery; and also can be applied to relieve inflammation. When crushed and pounded, the bark can be employed as an eyewash. Infused leaves can be used to help headaches and other aching.
Health-The leaves contain essential oil
, fat
, resin
, tannin
, amygdalin
, glucose
, a brown pigment and mineral salts. The bark contains, brown pigment, amygdalin
, starch
, gallic acid
, fat
, calcium
, potassium
, and iron
. The bark, leaves, and seeds(when in contact in water) must be used carefully because they can release HCN(Hydrogen Cyanide).
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
. It is similar to the Jamaica cherry. The capulin is often called the capuli, capoli, capulin, or capolin in both Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. While in other parts of these countries and in others, it has the names of cerezo, detse, detze, taunday, jonote, puan, palman, or xengua. In Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
it is called the wild cherry; in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
it is capuli; in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
it is called capulí; and in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, it is known as the capuli or black cherry.
Description
The tree yielding the capulin stands erect, reaching heights 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) from the ground, distinguished by a short stout trunk that is about 3 feet (0.9 m) in diameter. The leaves are deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
, alternate, and aromatic with the shape of a spear head that comes to a point at the top. The leaves are 2 to 7 inches (6–18 cm) long, dark green and glossy on the top side, and pale on the underside; while new leaves tend to be a rosy color. The leaves are thin and have finely-toothed edges. The flowers begin as slender buds with one or more leaves at the base of the bud. When they open, the flower is 3/4 of an inch (2 cm) wide with white petals and a conspicuous tuft of yellow stamens. The fruit has a heavy aroma and is round, but very small(ranging from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch (1–2 cm)wide. The skin of the Capulin is red or nearly-black, rarely white or yellowish, with a smooth, thin, tender skin. The juicy pulp is a pale-green and is sweet or slightly acidic, but all of the flavors blend together as a medley of an agreeable and edible pulp. There is a single pit with a very bitter kernel.
Origin
The Valley of Mexico from Sonora to Chiapas and Veracruz, and possibly western Guatemala, are the lands to which the Capulin is native to. The Capulin has been cultivated for the areas now including Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, and is extensively and abundantly naturalized. The Capulin was an important food for the Indians, inhabitants, and the Spanish conquistadors who conquered the new lands of the Americas. At times, the Capulin served as the main food group for the Spanish. In native markets, the Capulin appears in great quantities, especially in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Ecuador. In Guatemala, the seedlings of the Capulin are used as rootstock from which commercial cultivars of the northern cherry are grafted. The Capulin is little-known in eastern South America and elsewhere in the world. In 1924, the Capulin was introduced into the cool medium elevations of the Philippines.Season and climate
The tree of the Capulin grows in a subtropical to subtemperate climateClimate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
. It grows naturally at elevations between 4000 and 11,000 feet (1200–3400 m). The tree blooms from January to March in Mexico; where as in Guatemala and El Salvador, the flowers appear from January to May. The Capulin will ripen in July and August in Mexico. In Guatemala the Capulin will appear and ripen between May and September; while in El Salvador, the fruiting season extends from December through April.
Food and nutrition
The Capulin is eaten raw or stewed, and even preserved whole or made into a jam. For special tamales, the Capulin is used as a filler. With the skin and seeds removed, the Capulin can be mixed with milk and served with vanilla and cinnamon as a dessert. The Capulin can also be made into an alcoholic beverage by fermenting it. The chart below shows the nutritional significance of the Capulin:Food value
Moisture Protein Fat Fiber Ash Calcium Phosphorus Iron Carotene Thiamine Riboflavin Niacin Ascorbic Acid |
76.800 - 80.800 g 00.105 - 00.185 g 00.260 - 00.370 g 00.100 - 00.700 g 00.560 - 00.820 g 17.200 - 25.100 mg 16.900 - 24.400 mg 00.650 - 00.840 mg 00.005 - 00.162 mg 00.016 - 00.031 mg 00.018 - 00.028 mg 00.640 - 01.140 mg 22.200 - 32.800 mg |
Non-food uses
Seeds-The seeds contain 30-38% of a yellow, semidrying oil suitable for use in soap and paints.Flowers-The flowers are visited by honeybees and pollinated.
Wood-The sapwood is yellow with hints of red. The heartwood is a reddish-brown color, fine grained, very hard, strong, and durable. The heartwood is used for furniture, interior paneling, cabinets, and general carpentry. Mature, old roots are used for carving tobacco pipes, figurines, and other fine wooden objects.
Medical Uses-A syrup is made from the Capulin to help with respiratory problems and troubles. When the leaves are boiled, they can be given to reduce fever and to halt diarrhea and dysentery; and also can be applied to relieve inflammation. When crushed and pounded, the bark can be employed as an eyewash. Infused leaves can be used to help headaches and other aching.
Health-The leaves contain essential oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
, fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
, resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
, tannin
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
, amygdalin
Amygdalin
Amygdalin , C20H27NO11, is a glycoside initially isolated from the seeds of the tree Prunus dulcis, also known as bitter almonds, by Pierre-Jean Robiquet...
, glucose
Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar and an important carbohydrate in biology. Cells use it as the primary source of energy and a metabolic intermediate...
, a brown pigment and mineral salts. The bark contains, brown pigment, amygdalin
Amygdalin
Amygdalin , C20H27NO11, is a glycoside initially isolated from the seeds of the tree Prunus dulcis, also known as bitter almonds, by Pierre-Jean Robiquet...
, starch
Starch
Starch or amylum is a carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units joined together by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by all green plants as an energy store...
, gallic acid
Gallic acid
Gallic acid is a trihydroxybenzoic acid, a type of phenolic acid, a type of organic acid, also known as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plants. The chemical formula is C6H23COOH. Gallic acid is found both free and as part of...
, fat
Fat
Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and generally insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are triglycerides, triesters of glycerol and any of several fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure...
, calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
, potassium
Potassium
Potassium is the chemical element with the symbol K and atomic number 19. Elemental potassium is a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive with water, generating sufficient heat to ignite the hydrogen emitted in the reaction.Potassium and sodium are...
, and iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
. The bark, leaves, and seeds(when in contact in water) must be used carefully because they can release HCN(Hydrogen Cyanide).
External links
- http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/capulin.html-An extensive description of the Capulin.
- http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/capulin_cherry.htm-A website showing pictures of the Capulin and a little information