47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

2026-09-29T14:29:58Z

Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

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{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Maminha (''Uvaria ovata'')
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Uvaria ovata''
|-
! Common names
| maminha; araticum-maminha
|-
! Genus
| [[Uvaria]]
|-
! Family
| [[Annonaceae]]
|-
! Order
| [[Magnoliales]]
|-
! Growth form
| Shrub, 1–2.5 m tall
|-
! Native range
| West tropical Africa; distribution records also extend into parts of Asia
|-
! Habitat
| Savannah and coastal thickets; gravelly soils recorded
|-
! Propagation
| Seed
|-
! Fruit
| Globose carpels with sweet edible pulp
|}

'''Maminha''' ('''''Uvaria ovata'''''; also araticum-maminha) is a shrub in the family [[Annonaceae]]. It grows to about 1–2.5 m and is associated with savannah and coastal-thicket habitats in West tropical Africa. The fruiting carpels are described as globose and contain sweet pulp.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

== Description ==
''Uvaria ovata'' forms dense thickets. Gravelly soil is recorded for the subspecies ''ovata'', alongside savannah and coastal-thicket habitat.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]] ''Uvaria ovata'' belongs to the genus ''Uvaria'' in Annonaceae and Magnoliales.[[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

Distribution records differ: the species account describes West tropical Africa from Sierra Leone to Benin, while Kew lists native occurrences in West Africa and several Asian regions.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]] Recorded synonyms include ''Unona ovata'', ''Uvaria cordata'', and ''Uvaria globosa''.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]

== Cultivation ==
A warm, frost-free site is a conservative starting point for this tropical shrub. Its recorded savannah and coastal-thicket habitats indicate that drainage and seasonal exposure deserve attention, but cold tolerance, mature performance, and a fixed cultivation schedule should not be assumed from the distribution alone.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-4|[4]]]

=== Soil and water ===
As a habitat-based inference, begin with a sharply draining mineral soil rather than a permanently wet root zone: gravelly soil is specifically recorded for subspecies ''ovata''.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]] Maintain enough moisture for establishment while preserving rapid drainage after heavy rain; the species' response to prolonged saturation has not been quantified.

=== Sun and humidity ===
Savannah and coastal-thicket occurrence supports testing bright exposure with protection from the most desiccating conditions. This is a habitat-based starting point rather than a measured light or humidity requirement, so airflow and leaf response should guide placement as the plant establishes.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]

=== Seasonal changes ===
The plant's recorded habitats span open savannah and coastal thickets, so seasonal management should prioritize drainage during wet periods and continued root-zone moisture during dry periods without allowing saturation. Do not assign a universal flowering or harvest calendar; local climate and establishment conditions will control the timing of fruiting.

== Propagation ==
Seed is a documented propagation route for ''Uvaria ovata''.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]] No fixed germination interval or seed-storage schedule is given.

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==
The fruit consists of globose carpels with sweet edible pulp. Wild harvest and sale in local markets are recorded for the species, supporting a local-use description rather than a claim of standardized commercial fruit quality.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]

No species-wide bearing age, yield, ripening calendar, or harvest indicator is assigned. In cultivation, record flowering, fruit development, and color or texture changes on the individual plant before setting a harvest routine.

== Fruit and uses ==
The pulp is described as sweet and edible, and the fruit is recorded as gathered from the wild and sold in local markets.[[#cite_note-1|[1]]] These records support the traditional fruit-use description; they do not by themselves establish food-safety clearance, a universal flavor profile, or commercial handling recommendations.

== References ==
* [[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Uvaria+ovata Useful Tropical Plants: ''Uvaria ovata'']. Secondary useful-plant synthesis used for habit, habitat, fruit, local use, and seed-propagation records.

* [[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Uvaria%20ovata GBIF species match: ''Uvaria ovata'']. Accepted exact species match and higher classification.

* [[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/3154441 GBIF taxon record: ''Uvaria ovata'']. Accepted taxon record and nomenclatural metadata.

* [[#cite_ref-4|↑]] '''[4]''' [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60456774-2 Plants of the World Online: ''Uvaria ovata'']. Taxonomic and distribution record.

[[Category:Fruits]]
[[Category:Uvaria]]
[[Category:Tropical fruit shrubs]]

Uvaria ovata - Revision history

47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance