Makmao Berry Fruit Plant (Antidesma velutinosum)

Common Name: The Tassel-berry, Makmao

Botanical Name: Antidesma velutinosum

General Information:

Shrub or tree, reaching heights of 3 to 15 meters.

Native to East Asia, including northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Fruits are bignay-like, borne in long clusters, and ripen to red-black.

Sweet-flavored fruits can be eaten raw or processed into preserves.

Sometimes harvested from the wild for local use, both as food and possibly as medicine.

Additional Information:

The Tassel Berry (Antidesma venosum) tree, a related species, attracts fructivorous birds that eat the berries and various insect pollinators that feed on the flowers, attracting insectivorous birds.

Health Benefits:

Repository for Antioxidants and Vitamin C: Provides a source of antioxidants and vitamin C.

Benefits for Eyes: Promotes eye health.

Regulates Elevated Blood Pressure: Has potential benefits in regulating high blood pressure.

Controls Diabetes: Shows potential in controlling diabetes.

Aids with Weight Loss: Can contribute to weight loss.

Eases Digestion: Aids in digestion.

Anti-Inflammatory Qualities: Exhibits anti-inflammatory properties.

Combats Influenza: May have properties beneficial in combating influenza.

Cultivation Details:

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 3 to 4 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate