Muntingia calabura (Jamaica Cherry, Panama cherry, Singapore cherry)

Muntingia calabura, commonly known as Singapore cherry, Jamaica Cherry, Panama cherry is a small, evergreen tree. Its leaves are slightly hairy and are a bit sticky to touch. The tree is drought resistant and can thrive in poor soil also. In fact it can become invasive due to its habit of sending root suckers and also due to seed dispersal by birds and bats through their droppings. I have observed that Flower pecker birds puncture the fruit near its stalk and suck the juice.

Hairy leaves with unequal base near leaf stalk

The fruit is a tiny berry with hundreds of minute seeds. The seeds are so tiny that one cannot feel their presence while eating the fruit. The fruit contains juicy pulp which is sweet and with delectable falvour. The skin of the fruit is a bit leathery but is edible. The tree bears flowers and fruit almost all year round. The ripe fruit can be eaten whole and also can be used to make jam and jelly. Flowers and the leaves are supposed to have some medicinal uses. The tree is native to South America but has now been naturalized in many other countries, including India. The tree belongs to Muntingiaceae family.