Scientific Name

Garcinia humilis (Vahl) C. D. Adam

Pronunciation

ah-cha-chay-ROO ¹

Common Names

Achachairu, bacuri, achacha, bacupari, bacoparé, bacopari, bacopari-miúdo, mangostão-amarelo, escropari, bacuri-miúdo, remelento, bacurimirim; Australia: Achacha ^2,4,5

Synonyms

Rheedia americana Christm., R. humilis (Vahl) Kosterm., R. lateriflora L., R. sessiliflora Planch., R. sieberi Choisy, Malpighia mitis Rchb. ex Griseb., Mammea humilis Vahl, M. humilis var. plumieri Griseb., M. humilis var. vahlii Griseb., M. lateriflora Griseb. ⁶

Relatives

Bakuri (Platonia insignis); bakupari (G. brasiliensis); cherapu (G. prainiana); bacuripari (G. macrophylla); Cuban mangosteen (G. aristata); gamboge (G. xanthochymus); imbe (G. livinstonei); lemon drop mangosteen (G. intermedia); madroño (G. madruno); also called madroño (G. magnifolia); mameyito (G. edulis)
Family

Clusiaceae (St. John’s wort family); formerly Guttiferae

Origin
Indigenous to the Amazonian forests in Bolivia and South America ¹¹
Height

24-30 ft (7-9 m) ¹¹
Canopy/Spread

Evergreen; pyramidal canopy; compact branch/foliage system ^5,7
Growth rate
Slow when young; moderate as it matures
Trunk/bark/branches
Rugose bark; exudes a yellow latex when bruised/cut; branches strong,flexible ^4,5,7
USDA hardiness zones
10-12
Leaves

Simple; coriaceous; glabrous on both surfaces ⁴
Fruit

Berry; hard, thick skin; orange-yellow; globose or oblong; white, sub-acid pulp; non-climacteric ⁵
Season
Florida: Oct. through Jan. ¹

Australia: Dec. to late Feb.

Light Requirement

Reading Material
Achachairu, a Potential Fruit Crop for Florida, University of Florida ^pdf
Achachairú (Garcinia humilis) Fruit Trees: Botany and Commercial Cultivation in South Florida, University of Florida ^pdf

Taxonomy
The original species name of achachairú was Rheedia laterifolia (L.) Herzog, which was changed to Garcinia humilis (Vahl) C.D. Adams. Another synonym is Mammea humilis Vahl. In Spanish, it is called achachairu, shashairu, ibaguazu, cachicheruqui and tapacuari. ⁷

Achachairu in Australia, The Rare Fruit Council WA
Sorting Garcinia Names, Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database, University of Melbourne, Australia ^{ext. link}

Origin
G. humilis (Vahl) C.D. is a native of the eastern parts of Bolivia along with other species in this genus. In the Santa Cruz de la Sierra area of Bolivia, it is a very popular fruit and most of the production originates from wild or backyard trees, although in the last 20–30 years commercial orchards have been started in the region, though no precise statistics are available. It is estimated that there are more than 2,471 ac (1,000 ha) in Bolivia. Small plantings have been made in Guatemala and some plants introduced to Honduras that are performing well at 2,625 ft (800 m) altitude. A fairly large plantation has been started in Australia and the fruit is being marketed as “achacha” in the EU. ⁷
Since 2009, Achacha has been grown in the small North Queensland town of Giru in Australia. The Palm Creek Plantation, with its 15,000 trees, is run by a husband and wife, Helen and Bruce Hill. ⁹
In Florida, there is a 7 acre (2.8 ha) farm in Miami that sells the fruit online.

The Achacha Plantation in Australia

Description

It is an evergreen tree with ascendant branches and a dense crown. The tree is ornamental, and may be used in urban tree planting. However, it is in reforestation of permanent preservation areas that it is particularly useful, to supply the fauna in general with abundant food. ^2,4

It has marked apical dominance (orthotropic growth), coupled with vigorous and long horizontal branches (plagiotropic growth), which results in a characteristically conical shape with a broad base. It has a main cylindrical trunk with a mature diameter of 8 to 14 inches (20 to 36 cm). ¹¹

Leaves
The leaves are slightly darker green on the upper side than the lower, opposite, measuring 6-10 x 1.5-2.75 in. (15–25 x 4–7 cm), lanceolate, shiny and with entire margins and an acute or acuminate apex. They have an obvious central vein while lateral veins are not very conspicuous and are parallel. Young leaves start pinkish-bronze or reddish (Fig. 3), turning to yellowish-green before maturing. ⁷
Achachairu is an understory tree and strong sunlight can damage young foliage. ⁵

Fig. 5

Fig. 5. Achacha G. humilis, James Hill, Jamaica

Flowers
The achachairú flowers are self-fertile, hermaphroditic, and occasionally male. Flowers emerge from branch nodules in groups of 5 to 10. Each flower is approximately 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, has white-green petals, and has one ovary which is 0.2 inch (5 mm) in diameter and is surrounded by approximately 20 stamens. ¹¹
The tree has about 200 hermaphrodite flowers to each male flower, although some trees produce only male flowers. ⁷

Polination
Achachairu is a dioecious species sometimes stated to be andromonoecious. However non-male flowers are structurally hermaphrodite with functionally sterile stamens. Fragrant inflorescences occur as axillary cymes. Male plants have about five times as many flowers per cyme as females, and both have sucrose-containing nectaries as a reward for pollinators. There is a whorl of 10-20 free stamens and staminodes in staminate and pistillate flowers respectively, and in the latter there is a superior globular tri-carpellate ovary surmounted by a central disc-like stigma. Anthesis occurs throughout the morning, with pollination by insects including honeybees. ⁵

Fruit
The fruit is a berry with a smooth and hard thick skin. It changes from a bluish-green colour when immature to a yellowish-orange and then to orange-reddish colour as it ripens. The skin is thick and bitter, but easily peeled with the fingernails. The flavour is described as something between a feijoa and citrus, sweet and refreshing. Fruit have an ovoid shape about 1.5-2 in. (4-5cm) long with an average weight of 1.2 oz (35g). There can be 1-4 seeds, one sexual and others formed as a result of nucellar embryony, but many of these abort. Together, these seeds comprise a substantial fraction of the fruit. The size of the whole fruit is related to the number of non-aborted seeds. ⁵
After anthesis the ovary develops into a ripe fruit in about 150–160 days, depending on the climatic conditions. The fruit are not very visible since they are normally located inside the canopy.The fruit flavor resembles that of its Asian relative the
mangosteen. ⁷ 
Delicious, refreshing, exotic, tangy, effervescent . . . no wonder the name (Achachairú) translates as “honey kiss”! ¹⁰ 

Fig. 14	Fig. 15	Fig. 16

Harvest
Achachairú fruit is non-climacteric (i.e., they ripen on the tree) and should not be harvested before they have developed a dark-orange peel. Fruit with a light-orange color have not reached maximum sweetness and, although edible, will have a more acidic taste. Achachairú fruit does not fall off the tree, and once the fruit has reached peak ripening, there is usually a 2- to 3-week window for harvesting before the flavor, color, and texture start deteriorating, and the fruit begin turning brownish and bitter. ¹¹

Propagation
Seed propagation is most commonly used. Germination is best with fresh seeds sown with the remains of pulp still attached; washing apparently has no additional benefit, while drying in the sun is harmful. ¹
One and a haf pound (1 kg) contains about 310 seeds.
Sprouting begins in 60-80 days and the germination rate is normally high (over 80%). The development of the seedlings is slow as well as in the field (Fig. 19). ^3,4
With a variable number of seeds per fruit and polyembryony, some seedlings can be clones of the parent with others that may be sexual. ⁵
Being polyembryonic, dividing the seed into two or three pieces can produce a plant from almost every piece. ⁷
Very low success has been found with cuttings and air layers. Grafting is difficult with the latex seemingly hindering effective contact of the cambial layers. Using achachairu as its own rootstock does not produce good results. ⁵

Culture
Although in nature the tree grows in the shade of the rainforest, it produces more fruit when growing in a sunny position. Trees can withstand periodic inundation. Newly planted young trees are slow to establish and grow. Young trees, planted in a sunny position, commence fruiting sooner than plants growing in shady positions. ⁴
There is no fertilizer recommendation available for commercial achachairu production in Florida. Achachairu growers may use the recommendations for litchi production (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG051) for the time being because these two fruit-crops are similar in size and productivity. Pruning can make harvesting simpler and easier. ¹

Irrigation
The specific water requirements of achachairú for south Florida have not been determined, but trees grow best if abundant water is available year-round. Trees are affected quickly by insufficient watering. Smaller trees grown in containers are very susceptible to water stress and should be watered with at least 1 gallon (4 L) of water per plant every other day. Newly transplanted trees in the soil should be watered generously every 2 to 3 days for the first 1 to 3 months. ¹¹

Pests
Aphids may be observed as small green, whitish, or brown insects on buds and the underside of new growth. Damage results in deformed and curled leaves, which may also be covered with a black, sooty mold. New growth should be inspected for aphids. If insects are observed, weekly spraying with an organically-certified biological insecticide (such as BotaniGard^®) should be started and maintained until the insect’s population has been eliminated. ¹¹

Diseases
Anthracnose is usually not a significant problem for achachairú in Florida, and the application of fungicides is not recommended. ¹¹

Uses
The fruit is normally consumed fresh, by opening it and extracting the large seed that is surrounded by a cottony juicy pulp. The pulp has a sweet subacid flavor and is low in fat and protein. ⁷
The pulp can be separated from the skin and seed and made into a delicious sorbet, into a jam, a paste, or added to sauces which are often served with seafood.
The skins, blended with water and with a little sugar and mint, make a delicious drink. Traditionally in the Amazon a similar drink has been used for centuries as a hunger suppressant. ⁸
Fruit can be frozen for several months without significant loss in quality. ⁷

Preparation
To open, lightly pierce skin on circumference with thumbnail or a knife, and squeeze in the opposite direction; the skin will readily fracture around the circumference revealing the pearly white flesh. Then either eat direct from the skin, or take the flesh out with a spoon. ⁸

Other Uses
The wood is soft, moderately heavy, moderately durable under natural conditions. It is used for the manufacture of tool handles, fence posts, general construction etc. ^3,4