Bunchosia is a genus in the Malpighiaceae, a family of about 71 genera of flowering plants in the order Malpighiales. It currently (December 2025) contains 92 species of trees and shrubs, which are native to relatively dry woodlands, savannas, and wet forests. Their range extends from Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru, southern Brazil and northeast Argentina. Bunchosia is one of three arborescent genera of Malpighiaceae with fleshy, bird-dispersed fruits, the other two being Malpighia and Byrsonima.
Etymology
Antoine Laurent De Jussieu explained the name of the genus as from the resemblance of the paired seeds, flat on one side and convex on the other, to coffee beans. He stated that the name was from one of the old Arabic words for coffee: bunchos. At least one species is said to have poisonous seeds.
Selected species
Bunchosia argentea (Jacq.) DC. – silver peanut butter fruit, marmelo, mountain plum (ciruela del monte). A wild species with leaves abaxially sericeous, giving a silvery appearance.
Bunchosia armeniaca (Cav.) DC. – cansaboca, friar's plum (ciruela del fraile).
Bunchosia biocellata Schltdl.
Bunchosia cauliflora W.R.Anderson
Bunchosia cornifolia Kunth
Bunchosia costaricensis Rose
Bunchosia fluminensis – cachita, muchita or cafezinho do mato. Flavour resembles corn and papaya.
Bunchosia glandulifera (Jacq.) Kunth – peanut butter fruit. Most popular and widespread species in cultivation.
Bunchosia glandulosa (Cav.) DC.
Bunchosia hartwegiana Benth.
Bunchosia hookeriana A.Juss.
Bunchosia jamaicensis Urb. & Ndz.
Bunchosia lindeniana A.Juss.
Bunchosia linearifolia P.Wilson
Bunchosia mcvaughii W.R.Anderson
Bunchosia pallescens Skottsb. – usama or pale bunchosia.
Bunchosia praecox W.R.Anderson
Bunchosia sonorensis Rose
Bunchosia tutensis Dobson
Malpighia mexicana subsp. guadalajarensis (S.Watson) F.K.Mey. (as B. guadalajarensis S.Watson)
Formerly placed here
Malpighia mexicana subsp. guadalajarensis (S.Watson) F.K.Mey. (as B. guadalajarensis S.Watson)
