Couepia bracteosa

Couepia bracteosa, or pajura, is an evergreen tropical fruit tree. It belongs to the Chrysobalanaceae family. Its native range lies in tropical South America. This includes Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and the Guianas. It grows in forests on land that does not flood. It also occurs beside rivers, in uplands, and in secondary forests. People gather its fruit from wild trees and grow it locally. Sellers offer the fruit in local markets within its native range.

Garden references give a height and spread of 49 feet [15 metres]. Other accounts report heights of 33–66 feet [10–20 metres]. The crown is dense and narrow, despite the stated garden spread. Its straight, round trunk reaches about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 metres] across. The leaves are dark green with a leathery feel. Small white flowers grow in clusters at the branch tips. They also appear in the leaf axils. The sources give no flowering season.

The oval fruit has thin skin around a thick pulp. This pulp is sweet, fragrant, oily, and suitable for eating raw. Fruits reach about 0.43 feet [0.13 metres] long. They can measure 0.33 feet [0.10 metres] across. Its edible fruit makes pajura useful in tropical food forests. The supplied references report no known hazards. They do not establish safety for pets or every plant part. No medicinal use is recorded in these sources.

Pajura grows in sun or light shade in tropical conditions. It prefers moist ground with good drainage. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. Suitable soil pH ranges from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. It gives a moderate growth rate for the tree. Young trees also make moderate growth after planting. For propagation, collect seeds from fully ripe fruit. Wash away the pulp and sow the seeds while fresh. Use separate pots and keep them in partial shade. Germination is often poor and can take several weeks.

The tree also provides timber for outdoor carpentry. Its heavy wood lasts well but is hard to work. Wood-eating organisms cause relatively little damage to the timber. This does not establish resistance in living trees. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases. PFAF does not flag the species as a weed.