Alibertia, Alibertia edulis, also known as the Marmelada or Purui, is an upright, shrub, small or medium-sized open forest fruit bearing tree, not more than 8 m tall, with a trunk frequently branching near the base.


Alibertia edulis, is indigene to open fields in the Amazonian River area of Brazil and has a rainfall requirement ranging between 1400mm and 3000mm. Alibertia is a member of 45 species of the family Rubiaceae the genus Alibertia.

Leaves are simple, opposite, tapering at the tip but become rounded out at the base, 10-25cm long and 2.5-10cm wide, bright green and resemble those of the avocado tree. The white blossoms are bisexual, reasonably large and appear from springtime to summertime.

The fruits of Alibertia are a berry that ripens to a yellowish or somewhat darker color, with a green crown at the apex, the leftovers of the flower. The fruit is same in size and shape to the pomegranate, it is edible but with just a small amount of a blackish flesh and large ovate seeds.

Fruit has a subacid flavour quite agreeable to most palates. It is consumed fresh out of hand, or utilised to make sweetened juices, jellies and sweets.

Propagation is by seeds. Seeds will sprout quickly, within a month or two, if they are sown in shortly after removal from the fruit. Alibertias can produce two crops a year. Trees produce fruit early in life and a 5 year old tree can produce up to 80 fruits.

Alibertia edulis, Marmelada, Purui

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