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Acerola
Malpighia emarginata
アセロラ
An evergreen shrub to small tree native to the West Indies. Known for its red fruits with exceptionally high vitamin C content; cultivated in Okinawa. Bears charming small pink flowers.
Identification Points
- ✓Fruits red to orange-red spherical berries with extremely high vitamin C content
- ✓Flowers pink with 5 petals
- ✓Leaves ovate to oblong, opposite
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical orchards and gardens (Okinawa)
Season
April–November (fruits)
Morphological TraitsAI-estimated, needs verification
Growth form
Tree
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Round
Habitat
Cultivated
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Entire
Petal count
Many
Petal fusion
Free
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
5
Phylogenetic Positionキントラノオ科 →
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Eudicots > Core eudicots > Malpighiales > Malpighiaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (about 60–50 million years ago)
Evolution Notes
Malpighiaceae belongs to Malpighiales, and many species have co-evolved with oil-collecting bees through specialized oil glands on their petals.
View on evolution timeline →Sources & References
AI-generated, needs verification