>Thomas E. Billings wrote:
>>
>> Muntingia calabura, the strawberry tree. A small tree native to the Amazon
>> basin but now naturalized in a number of other locations, world-wide.
>
>Do you think it could be related to the tree/shrub of the same name
>that is often grown in the San Francisco bay area as a landscaping
>plant?  I've never given it much attention, but its fruit is a bit
>prickly, I think.  Otherwise, it is much as you describe.  I don't
>know its scientific name, unfortunately.
>
>Carol

Hi Carol,
I had a muntingia tree in my front yard on Ocean Dr on S Beach in Miami
Bch. We planted it in front of the building in front of my second story
apt. Withing a year it had grown even with the 2 story roof, plus nearly
inside my windows and bore the most delicious smooth skinned sweet
mini-cherries in total abundance. It was hard to eat enough it was so
delicious. A combo flavor of cherries, strawberries and powdered sugar! It
withstood the salt air and gale force winds off the ocean!
Sheila Shea


Kind Regards,
Sheila Shea
http://www.sheilas.com
http://listserv.azstarnet.com/cgi-bin/lwgate/INTEST_HEALTH/