Mulchi and Giant Mulchi identifed as Plinia inflata

[fruitlovers]

I received this information from Jim West:

"The Plinia sp. (which i previously called Eugenia subterminalis) from
the ecuador amazon, with common names of mulchi, giant mulchi, and
shawi, has been identified by lucia kawasaki, from the Field Museum,
as Plinia inflata.   originally described from amazonian brasil.

still no identification of the dwarf mulchi."

I have seeds of mulchi and giant mulchi right now. If anyone is interested PM me.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

i noticed the new book "frutas no brasil" had mulchi listed as P. inflata.

I wonder if the dwarf is a subspecies, or variety of P. inflata..or if they are going to try to call it a separate species?

the fruits look almost identical...just different sizes.

[fruitlovers]

i noticed the new book "frutas no brasil" had mulchi listed as P. inflata.

I wonder if the dwarf is a subspecies, or variety of P. inflata..or if they are going to try to call it a separate species?

the fruits look almost identical...just different sizes.

Jim is not even sure dwarf mulchi is a Plinia, only that it is for sure Myrtaceae.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

I'm inclined to believe it's a plinia, based on pics I've seen of the fruiting trees , and the fact they're calling the mulchi P inflata

i noticed the new book "frutas no brasil" had mulchi listed as P. inflata.

I wonder if the dwarf is a subspecies, or variety of P. inflata..or if they are going to try to call it a separate species?

the fruits look almost identical...just different sizes.

Jim is not even sure dwarf mulchi is a Plinia, only that it is for sure Myrtaceae.

[Finca La Isla]

We have been fruiting dwarf mulchi for about 2-3 years now.  It's a very unusual plant but the fruit, what there is, is alright.  It doesn't take up much space at all.  I have it planted out but I imagine it would fruit in a 3 gallon pot.
The mulchi is much older, bigger, but no sign of fruit or flower.
Peter

[buddyguygreen]

I received this information from Jim West:

"The Plinia sp. (which i previously called Eugenia subterminalis) from
the ecuador amazon, with common names of mulchi, giant mulchi, and
shawi, has been identified by lucia kawasaki, from the Field Museum,
as Plinia inflata.   originally described from amazonian brasil.

still no identification of the dwarf mulchi."

I have seeds of mulchi and giant mulchi right now. If anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks for sharing that info, Im happy i will have a chance to grow this species and one day actually try the fruit. Thank you for supplying the seeds

I'm inclined to believe it's a plinia, based on pics I've seen of the fruiting trees , and the fact they're calling the mulchi P inflata

i noticed the new book "frutas no brasil" had mulchi listed as P. inflata.

I wonder if the dwarf is a subspecies, or variety of P. inflata..or if they are going to try to call it a separate species?

the fruits look almost identical...just different sizes.

Jim is not even sure dwarf mulchi is a Plinia, only that it is for sure Myrtaceae.

What is the main characteristic differences of the trees between Myrtaceae and Plinia.

[fruitlovers]

I received this information from Jim West:

"The Plinia sp. (which i previously called Eugenia subterminalis) from
the ecuador amazon, with common names of mulchi, giant mulchi, and
shawi, has been identified by lucia kawasaki, from the Field Museum,
as Plinia inflata.   originally described from amazonian brasil.

still no identification of the dwarf mulchi."

I have seeds of mulchi and giant mulchi right now. If anyone is interested PM me.

Thanks for sharing that info, Im happy i will have a chance to grow this species and one day actually try the fruit. Thank you for supplying the seeds

I'm inclined to believe it's a plinia, based on pics I've seen of the fruiting trees , and the fact they're calling the mulchi P inflata

i noticed the new book "frutas no brasil" had mulchi listed as P. inflata.

I wonder if the dwarf is a subspecies, or variety of P. inflata..or if they are going to try to call it a separate species?

the fruits look almost identical...just different sizes.

Jim is not even sure dwarf mulchi is a Plinia, only that it is for sure Myrtaceae.

What is the main characteristic differences of the trees between Myrtaceae and Plinia.

Myrtaceae is a plant family, and it includes the genus Plinia. So saying it is a myrtaceae doesn't rule out the possibility that the dwarf mulchi is a Plinina. But it also doesn't rule out the possibility of it being a myrciaria genus or a eugenia genus. I don't really know what the distinguishing taxanomical factors are between these different genus, if that is your question?
PS i am glad i am able to help to distribute the seeds. Most of the thanks should really go to Jim West who is actually growing the original mother trees.

[palologrower]

anyone have opinion on taste of the giant mulchi? 

Worth getting over the dwarf mulchi?

[Cassio]

I found a Kawasaki´s papper where she describes another "cousin" of cambucá: Plinia yasuniana. Visually, the fruit is equal to cambucá, but the leafs of the tree aren´t. http://www.puce.edu.ec/documentos/Kawasaki_Perez_2012_Pliniayasuniana.pdf
The same applies to  Plinia povedae: https://cotram.org/collections/individual/index.php?occid=2770702
 
But, while similar to cambucá, the fruits described in the papper and in the link above, looks different of the giant mulchi: http://plant.daleysfruit.com.au/l/the-biggest-pliniajaboticaba1-11833.jpeg
Also, looks different of the shawi fruit, at least in shape: http://www.asklepios-seeds.de/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/p/l/plinia_sp._-_shawi_steffen_20140415_132035.jpg

Plinia inflata was first mentioned in 1956: http://tropicos.org/Name/22102010. There aren´t photos of the fruit.

To my knowledge, cambucá has a pulp in light Orange color, while mulchi has a White/cream pulp. Don´t know about shawi nor about yasuniana and povedeae.

We still have a lot to learn!!

[fruitlovers]

I found a Kawasaki´s papper where she describes another "cousin" of cambucá: Plinia yasuniana. Visually, the fruit is equal to cambucá, but the leafs of the tree aren´t. http://www.puce.edu.ec/documentos/Kawasaki_Perez_2012_Pliniayasuniana.pdf
The same applies to  Plinia povedae: https://cotram.org/collections/individual/index.php?occid=2770702
 
But, while similar to cambucá, the fruits described in the papper and in the link above, looks different of the giant mulchi: http://plant.daleysfruit.com.au/l/the-biggest-pliniajaboticaba1-11833.jpeg
Also, looks different of the shawi fruit, at least in shape: http://www.asklepios-seeds.de/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/1800x/040ec09b1e35df139433887a97daa66f/p/l/plinia_sp._-_shawi_steffen_20140415_132035.jpg

Plinia inflata was first mentioned in 1956: http://tropicos.org/Name/22102010. There aren´t photos of the fruit.

To my knowledge, cambucá has a pulp in light Orange color, while mulchi has a White/cream pulp. Don´t know about shawi nor about yasuniana and povedeae.

We still have a lot to learn!!

Shawi = Mulchi. The first is a name used by indigenous tribes in Peru. The second is a name used by indigenous tribes in Ecuador.

[Cassio]

Shawi = Mulchi. The first is a name used by indigenous tribes in Peru. The second is a name used by indigenous tribes in Ecuador.

Thanks Oscar! Found a link that you posted in the forums some time ago: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/02/50/46/00001/vanetten_e.pdf
The mulchi is really different from cambuca. It´s MUCH bigger and the pulp is white/cream, while cambuca is light orange. Also, some vars can have a red skin as said in the papper. But takes so long as cambucá to fruit... I´ll be dead before it happens! 

[fruitlovers]

Shawi = Mulchi. The first is a name used by indigenous tribes in Peru. The second is a name used by indigenous tribes in Ecuador.

Thanks Oscar! Found a link that you posted in the forums some time ago: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/02/50/46/00001/vanetten_e.pdf
The mulchi is really different from cambuca. It´s MUCH bigger and the pulp is white/cream, while cambuca is light orange. Also, some vars can have a red skin as said in the papper. But takes so long as cambucá to fruit... I´ll be dead before it happens! 

Pessimist gardener: i'll be dead before that tree fruits.
Opitimist gardener: I will have to live until that tree fruits. 
Anyway i don't think either species takes so long. Given right conditions both can fruit in 6-8 years.

[luc]

Still have 2 left , the rest died , considering they have been in nursery bags for so many years , probably minimum 6 or so and that they are still not over 60 cm the dwarfs survived and the regular's are history .

Still haven't decided where to plant those in the ground , now that the rainy season is coming up I really have to make up my mind , shade...full sun ...filtered light ...help me out here ....

[fruitlovers]

Still have 2 left , the rest died , considering they have been in nursery bags for so many years , probably minimum 6 or so and that they are still not over 60 cm the dwarfs survived and the regular's are history .

Still haven't decided where to plant those in the ground , now that the rainy season is coming up I really have to make up my mind , shade...full sun ...filtered light ...help me out here ....

I would guess needs are similar to cambuca: partial shade to start out, and when a couple feet tall can go full sun.

[Mike T]

I planted a shawi and a couple of Jim West's giant mulchi which is P.inflata so I guess they are the same thing.The standard mulchi must be another species and the dwarf mulchi certainly is. Dwarf mulchi doesn't enjoy sunlight with rapiud dieback, but the giant and standard mulchis handle full sun when quite small.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

the dwarf handles intense heat in my greenhouse...light is very bright, but probably at about 60-70% full sun...mature leaves always get burnt tips, but new growth emerges beautifully (typical with many rare Plinias).

almost impossible to establish small seedlings with city water.

the giant grows very slow for me...the leaves look much different than the dwarf.

[Mike T]

I find the dwarf gets burnt tips and dying foliage even with rainwater only and the deepest shade is needed healthy growth.The giant is also pretty slow taking a year to get a foot high at my place.

[fruitlovers]

I planted a shawi and a couple of Jim West's giant mulchi which is P.inflata so I guess they are the same thing.The standard mulchi must be another species and the dwarf mulchi certainly is. Dwarf mulchi doesn't enjoy sunlight with rapiud dieback, but the giant and standard mulchis handle full sun when quite small.

The giant mulchi is supposed to be a selection of standard mulchi that Jim West made. So both those are Plinia inflata. The dwarf mulchi is not ID'ed yet.

[fruitlovers]

Here is some more information i just got from Jim West:

"as to how long those plants take to bear, mulchi is indeed very slow.
but dwarf mulchi is quick, begins to produce when still a very small
bush less than 1 m tall, three or four years.   i doubt its a plinia."
 

[Cassio]

Here is some more information i just got from Jim West:

"as to how long those plants take to bear, mulchi is indeed very slow.
but dwarf mulchi is quick, begins to produce when still a very small
bush less than 1 m tall, three or four years.   i doubt its a plinia."

So I can have some hope! I have a dwarf mulchi in the ground, 20 cm tall.
I bought it in 2014 and, in 2015, it don´t grew almost nothing. But in 2016 looks like it can be different. New leafs are coming.

[Carl.D]

Can anyone comment on the taste of the giant, standard & dwarf types and flesh percentage ?

[Frog Valley Farm]

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[fruitlovers]

Can anyone comment on the taste of the giant, standard & dwarf types and flesh percentage ?

Anyone have this taste experince they might share?

Ate a bunch of dwarf mulchi in Ecuador. Taste is good but pulp to seed ratio is not good.

[Finca La Isla]

I recently posted, with photos, regarding dwarf mulchi.  While there is not so much pulp the taste is good and there is pulp.  In the case of dwarf mulchi, the tree/bush is very small and, really, wants shade.  Several of them could be planted under other fruit trees.  To see them with the cauliferous  yellow fruits ready to pick and eat is pretty cool.
Peter

[Frog Valley Farm]

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