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Brazil plum

Spondias tuberosa Arruda

Family: Anacardiaceae · Genus: Spondias

umbu

Climax Medium
Alex Popovkin · CC BY · iNaturalist

Endemic fruit tree of the Caatinga semiarid biome, with underground tuberous roots (xylopodia) that store water and allow it to survive long droughts. Keystone species of Brazilian drylands.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Climax
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
Medium
Strata
Medium, High

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Low
Drought tolerance
High
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
6–7
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
10–12

Morphology

Mature height
4–10 m
Recommended spacing
8–10 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Slow
Time to first harvest
36 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Brazil plum takes the Medium stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High Medium · ≈10 m Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Very slow growth; needs a complete rainy cycle to develop. Mostly wild-harvested, with cultivation still nascent.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October, November

Fruiting months: December, January, February, March

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of Brazil plum?

The first harvest of Brazil plum comes around 36 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for Brazil plum?

The recommended spacing for Brazil plum is 8–10 m.

How tall does Brazil plum grow?

At maturity, Brazil plum reaches 4–10 m tall.

When does Brazil plum fruit?

Fruiting of Brazil plum occurs in December, January, February, March.

When does Brazil plum flower?

Flowering of Brazil plum occurs in September, October, November.

What stage and stratum does Brazil plum occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, Brazil plum belongs to the climax stage, occupying the medium stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit 🍯 Melliferous Medicinal Fodder

Propagation

Seed, Cutting, Grafting

Citations

  1. Mongabay BR — Como agroflorestas adaptadas à Caatinga estão transformando o semiárido em comida
  2. Spondias tuberosa — Wikipedia
  3. PFAF Plant Database — Spondias tuberosa (Imbu, Umbú, Brazil Plum) (ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, light_need, soil_texture_preference, drought_tolerance, waterlogging_tolerance, growth_rate)
  4. Useful Tropical Plants — Spondias tuberosa (ph_min, ph_max, growth_rate, waterlogging_tolerance, root_system, root_depth)
  5. Embrapa — Ciclo reprodutivo do imbuzeiro (Spondias tuberosa) no semi-árido do Nordeste brasileiro (phenology, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  6. Gardenish / Holistic Health Pathways — Umbu (Spondias tuberosa) cultivation (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, time_to_first_harvest_months)

External references

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