Thirst-slaking. Malpighia glabra, Antilles Cherry, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
'No, we suffered no ill effects', writes Dutch-born Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817) in 1788, 'when I and two companions fell upon these fruits to slake our thirst after an exhausting hike in maritime Venezuela'. Jacquin between 1755 and 1759 explored and collected natural specimens on the behalf of Emperor Francis I and went on to become a renowned professor in Vienna, Austria.
In a way it was curious to see this pretty plant in the deep shade of the Tropical Glass House of the Hortus. It loves to grow in the direct, hot Tropical Sun and I almost missed it in the Glass House. The cherries it produces in more kindly light are bright red, very sour and they contain lots of Vitamin C. One of their names is 'acerola'.
Thirst-slaking. Malpighia glabra, Antilles Cherry, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
'No, we suffered no ill effects', writes Dutch-born Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817) in 1788, 'when I and two companions fell upon these fruits to slake our thirst after an exhausting hike in maritime Venezuela'. Jacquin between 1755 and 1759 explored and collected natural specimens on the behalf of Emperor Francis I and went on to become a renowned professor in Vienna, Austria.
In a way it was curious to see this pretty plant in the deep shade of the Tropical Glass House of the Hortus. It loves to grow in the direct, hot Tropical Sun and I almost missed it in the Glass House. The cherries it produces in more kindly light are bright red, very sour and they contain lots of Vitamin C. One of their names is 'acerola'.