Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - November 2020

LOOK OUT FOR…
Life is Just a Bowl
of Barbados Cherries
by Lynn Kaak
As you travel through the Caribbean, every month there’s something special to look
out for.
West Indian cherry, Acerola, Barbados cherry, or whatever you may end up calling
it, Malphigia emarginata is one to remember. Frequently made into juice, it also is an
integral ingredient in local cherry cakes and jams, as well as other delectable delights.
While usually more tart and acidic than its more temperate counterparts, the fruit
from this tree is a nutritional power plant. It is extremely rich in vitamin C (one
cherry has your daily requirement!), as well as vitamin A, and the B vitamins 1, 2,
and 3. Antioxidants abound, and it is also a notable source of manganese. A glass
of this juice will do a body good. It also mixes very pleasantly in a fruit punch. The
fruit is used commercially for vitamin tablets; however, getting it straight from the
source seems so much better!
This tropical evergreen grows as a shrub or a short tree. It doesn’t tend to get above
heights of about six metres (20 feet), and tends to be closer to about three metres
(ten feet) tall. Its dense foliage and crown make for a decent privacy hedge, and the
tree can even be sculpted somewhat in the manner of bonsai. This sun-loving tree
loves to sink its roots into soil on the sandy side, but since those roots don’t go deep,
the tree is susceptible to windstorms and is better off in a protected area.
The leaves are somewhat oval and come to a point. They may appear to be a little
crinkled, with a look that lends another name: Wild Crepe Myrtle. The leaves have small
stems, and tend to grow opposite to one another. They have tiny hairs that might irritate
the skin if they are handled too much. They are found on the tree all year around.
The flowers are one to two centimetres in diameter with five fringed petals. They can
be a pale pink to a fairly deep red, and grow in clusters of three to five flowers. With
the flowers being bisexual, pollination is not difficult for the tree. With the size of the
flowers being relatively small, insects and the wind tend to be the main pollinators.
The fruit are small and red, looking very… well, cherry-like, growing in small
clumps. The small bright red orbs have three small seeds inside. Trees can bear fruit
three times per year, so you don’t have to wait too long for the next batch to appear.
They can be eaten raw and are pleasant tasting, and the right conditions can make
them sweeter. While they don’t last long after ripening, they can be kept a little
longer with refrigeration or freezing.
These cherries are indigenous to the area from southern Mexico to the northern
parts of South America, as well as the Caribbean Basin. The trees can now be found
throughout the tropics, and even reach into the subtropics. The trees don’t do well
if the temperature hits around the freezing point, so care is required in areas like
Florida if the temperature drops.
These trees can be seen almost everywhere around the Caribbean where the soil is
a little sandier and the elevation isn’t too high. While popular for landscaping, they
can also be found in areas with no close habitation.
NOVEMBER 2020 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 23
Martinique Offi ce
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