Imbu , umbu , or Brazilian plum ( Latin: Spondias tuberosa ) is a small, low-branched fruit tree belonging to the species Mumbin tuberous of the Sumach family , 4-5 m high, with a spreading crown up to 10 m in diameter, with a tuberous branched root and.
| Imbu |
|
| Scientific classification |
|---|
|
| International scientific name |
|---|
Spondias tuberosa Arruda ex H. Kost. |
|
The flowers are white, 4-5-petal. The bark of the tree is smooth greenish or yellow. The fruit is oval, 2-4 cm long, with a greenish-yellow thin skin. Inside the fruit contains a gentle sweet pulp with one large bone. One tree can produce up to 300 kg of fruit per season. The root of the tree has the ability to store up to 3000 liters of water for the dry season. This ability of the tree is used by the local population to their advantage.
The plant is found mainly in the wild in Brazil, rarely cultivated; Recently, work has been underway on its introduction in Florida and Malaysia .
Imbu fruits are consumed fresh. They make juices , jams and other sweetened canned food.