Acerola
| Malpighia emarginata | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Malpighiaceae |
| Genus: | Malpighia |
| Species: | M. emarginata |
| Binomial name | |
|
Malpighia emarginata DC. |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 134 kJ (32 kcal) |
|
7.69 g
|
|
| Dietary fiber | 1.1 g |
|
0.3 g
|
|
|
0.4 g
|
|
| Vitamins | |
| Vitamin A equiv. |
(5%)
38 μg |
| Thiamine (B1) |
(2%)
0.02 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) |
(5%)
0.06 mg |
| Niacin (B3) |
(3%)
0.4 mg |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) |
(6%)
0.309 mg |
| Vitamin B6 |
(1%)
0.009 mg |
| Folate (B9) |
(4%)
14 μg |
| Vitamin C |
(2021%)
1677.6 mg |
| Minerals | |
| Calcium |
(1%)
12 mg |
| Iron |
(2%)
0.2 mg |
| Magnesium |
(5%)
18 mg |
| Manganese |
(29%)
0.6 mg |
| Phosphorus |
(2%)
11 mg |
| Potassium |
(3%)
146 mg |
| Sodium |
(0%)
7 mg |
| Zinc |
(1%)
0.1 mg |
|
|
|
|
|
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA Nutrient Database |
|
Malpighia emarginata is a tropical fruit-bearing shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae.
Common names include acerola (Spanish pronunciation: [aseˈɾola], Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐseˈɾɔlɐ]), Barbados cherry, West Indian cherry and wild crepe myrtle. Acerola is native to South America, southern Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Central America, but is now also being grown as far north as Texas and in subtropical areas of Asia, such as India.
It is known for being extremely rich in vitamin C, almost as much as camu camu, although it also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, and B3, as well as carotenoids and bioflavonoids, which provide important nutritive value and have antioxidant uses.
M. emarginata is originally from Yucatán, and can be found in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America as far south as Peru, and the southeast region of Brazil, and in the southernmost parts of the contiguous United States (southern Florida and the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas). In Florida, it can be grown in protected locations as far north as Cape Canaveral. It is cultivated in the tropics and subtropics throughout the world, including the Canary Islands, Ghana, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, India, Java, Hawaii, and Australia.
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