Byrsonima crassifolia

Byrsonima crassifolia
Byrsonima crassifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Malpighiaceae
Genus:	Byrsonima
Species:	B. crassifolia
Binomial name
Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth[1]
Synonyms[2]
Malpighia crassifolia L.

Changunga or nance, frozen, unsweetened

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	306 kJ (73 kcal)
Carbohydrates	16.97 g
- Sugars	8.31 g
- Dietary fiber	7.5 g
Fat	1.16 g
Protein	0.66 g
Vitamin A equiv.	5 μg (1%)
- lutein and zeaxanthin	569 μg
Thiamine (Vit. B1)	0.015 mg (1%)
Riboflavin (Vit. B2)	0.018 mg (1%)
Niacin (Vit. B3)	0.29 mg (2%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.18 mg (4%)
Vitamin B6	0.021 mg (2%)
Folate (Vit. B9)	8 μg (2%)
Vitamin C	92.5 mg (154%)
Vitamin E	1.25 mg (8%)
Vitamin K	11.9 μg (11%)
Calcium	46 mg (5%)
Iron	0.38 mg (3%)
Magnesium	20 mg (5%)
Manganese	0.248 mg (12%)
Phosphorus	10 mg (1%)
Potassium	244 mg (5%)
Sodium	3 mg (0%)
Zinc	0.09 mg (1%)
Link to USDA Database entry Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient database

Byrsonima crassifolia is a slow growing tree native to the Tropical America. Common names include changunga, muruci, murici, nanche, nance, nancite, chacunga, craboo, kraabu, savanna serrette (or savanna serret) and golden spoon. In Jamaica it is called hogberry (plural hogberries). It is primarily cultivated in Peru, Southern Mexico, Pacific side of Central America, Guadeloupe, Barbados, Brazil, St. Martin, Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad, Curacao, Isle of Pines, Puerto Rico, Dominica and The Dominican Republic. It belongs to the acerola family of Malpighiaceae. It is suitable to the tropical and subtropical climates. The tree bears yellow to dull orange or red flowers during spring to fall and fruits on August and September. The white and juicy flesh of yellow fruit has pungent and distinct flavor. It attracts butterflies, bees and birds.

Plant

Byrsonima crassifolia is the slow growing, large shrub or tree which grows up to 33 feet high. The leaves are opposite, ovate-elliptic or oblong-elliptic; 3.2–17 cm long and 4–7 cm wide. The flowers are 10–20 cm long and 1.25–2 cm wide; yellow or dull orange, red with five petals. Fruit is small ball shaped, round, ovate to globose; 8–12 cm wide and 0.8-1.5 cm in diameter. The fruit has white and juicy flesh, pungent, distinct aroma and thin skin. The fruit include 1 to 3 white seeds which is 0.5-1.2 cm in diameter. The tree has dark brown, fissured and rough bark. The inner bark is pinkish. It has tall or short and straight or crooked trunk

Nutritional value

The serving size of 112 grams of Nance fruit grants 90.32 g of water, 82 calories, 0.74 g of protein, 1.3 g of fat, 0.64 g of ash, 19.01 g of carbohydrate, 8.4 g of dietary fiber, 9.31 g of total sugars, 4.01 g of glucose and 5.3 g of fructose. It offers 115.11% of Vitamin C, 12.09% of manganese, 11.08% of Vitamin K, 9.33% of Vitamin E, 5.81% of potassium, 5.38% of iron, 5.24% of magnesium, 5.20% of calcium and 5.11% of copper.

References

1. "Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
2. "Byrsonima crassifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 2010-03-30.