Family: Rubiaceae

Burijo is a small tree that produces edible fruit that is native to South America. Suited to humid, tropical climates, burijo thrives in Hawaii. It does best with heavy soils, consistent rainfall, or along rivers. The fruit is considered ripe after it has fallen from the tree. The fruit contains high levels of protein, ascorbic acid, calcium, iron, and phosphorus.

 

 

Plant Uses:

• Edible
• Medicinal
• Ornamental

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Elevation range exceeds 1000 m, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Reaches maturity in 1.5 years
  
• Seeds presumably dispersed by birds, other frugivorous animals and intentionally by people

Low Risk Traits:

• Domesticated by indigenous people
  
• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but no evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Edible fruit
  
• Dioecious
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Relatively large fruit and seeds unlikely to be inadvertently dispersed
  
• Recalcitrant seeds lack dormancy and unlikely to form a persistent seed bank