268 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



THE CAPULIN (Plate XIII) 

 (Prunus salicifolia, HBK.) 



One of the best rosaceous fruits of tropical countries is the 

 capulin or wild cherry of Central America and northern South 

 America. In its present wild and semi-wild state a fruit of 

 fairly good quality, it would seem that with a little attention 

 from plant-breeders it might become a valuable addition to the 

 list of fruits suitable for moist subtropical regions. Geographi- 

 cally it is a tropical fruit, but in climatic requirements it is 

 distinctly subtropical, for it does not thrive upon the tropical 

 littoral, but grows in cool mountain regions at elevations of 

 4000 to 9000 feet. It should, therefore, be sufficiently hardy 

 to permit of cultivation as far north as California, Florida, 

 and the Gulf states, and it may also be of value for northern 

 India, southern Brazil, and similar regions. 



The botany of this species is confused. It seems to differ 

 very little from the Prunus Capollin, Zucc., of Mexico (P. 

 Capuli, Cav., Cerasus Capollin, DC) ; possibly the two are 

 identical. Prunus Capollin is abundant in the Mexican high- 

 lands, where it is an important fruit. Prunus salicifolia is 

 supposed to be found only in South America, but specimens 

 collected in Guatemala have been identified as of this species. 

 Horticulturally there is little difference between the capulins 

 of Mexico and those of Central America. The name is taken 

 from the Nahuatl language of Mexico. In Spanish the fruit is 

 often termed cereza (cherry). 



The tree is erect, often somewhat slender, and reaches a 

 height of 30 feet. The trunk is stout, reaching as much as 

 3 feet in thickness, with bark rough and grayish. The leaves, 

 which are borne upon slender petioles f inch long, are commonly 

 4J inches in length, oblong-lanceolate in outline, with a long 

 slender tip, and are deep green on the upper surface, glaucous 



