ZIZIPHUS JOAZEIRO

 

POPULAR NAMES: Joá, Juá, laranja de vaqueiro, cowboy orange.

 

RHAMNACEAE

 

 

 

 

INDIGENOUS NAME: Joá comes from the Tupi and means "yellow fruit."

 

Origin: Occurs in the caatinga of northeast region, in floodplains of the Rio San Francisco in the north of Minas Gerais and mainly within the Bahia, Brazil.

 

Characteristics: Medium-sized tree, grows to 8 to 15 meters (27 to 50 feet) tall, canopy with foliage and interlaced thorns. The leaves are simple, large and characterized by three hairy main veins on the back which appear of the base meeting at the apex. The flowers are tiny, golden yellow in color and appear in axillary summits (sort of disorderly bunch).

 

Planted in the site of Frutas Raras: February 2002, blossomed in 2004, and bear fruit in 2005.

 

Tips for cultivation: Fast growing tree that resists low temperatures (to -4°C (25°F)), and grows at any altitude.  The soil may be deep, moist, acid pH, formation of sand or clay (red soil) and even gritty. The tree is a pioneer and great for use in reforestation.

 

Planting: Round seed, cream in color, has hard shell and keep the germinative power for up to 1 year. Germinate in 45 to 80 days if planted in sandy substrate and rich in organic matter, the seedlings grow rapidly both in sunshine and in shadow and start fruiting in the age of 2 to 4 years after planting.

 

Propagation: Can be planted in full sun and in forests and in reforestation of permanent preservation. Space of 8 x 8 m (27 to 27 feet). Add to the hole 25 % of sand, 1 kg of ash and 8 liters of organic matters. water every fifteen days during the first 3 months, then only water is absent at the time of bloom.

 

Cultivating: Make only forming pruning of the crown and remove branches that were appeared at the base of the trunk and branches that are very intertwined, and perhaps prevent the formation of the crown. Fertilize with organic compost, can be (6 liters) poultry litter + 50 g of NPK 10-10-10 doubling that amount every year until the 3rd year, after fertilizer every 2 years, as thick and deep roots of this tree store water and nutrients.

 

Uses: The fruits look like small yellow apples, taste is sweet and strong that resembles a mixture of peanut and orange. Can be consumed in natura or used to make liquor and sweets.

 

Flowering in the site of Frutas Raras: November to January.

 

Fruiting in the site of Frutas Raras: May to July.

 

      

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIFICATION, ORIGIN, HISTORY, STATEMENT OF PLAN, CULTURAL PRACTICES, MEDICINAL PROPERTIES IN THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE

 

BUY THE BOOK “COLECIONANDO FRUTAS”

 

 

 

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