Genipa americana

Genipa americana trees are up to 30 m tall and up to 60 cm dbh.[1][2][3] Their bark is smooth with little fissures.[3] The leaves are opposite, obovate, or obovate oblong, 10–35 cm long, 6–13 cm wide, and glossy dark green, with entire margin, acute or acuminate apex, and attenuated base.[1][4][2] The inflorescences are cymes up to 10 cm long.[1] The flowers are white to yellowish, slightly fragrant, calyx bell-shaped, corolla at 2–4.5 cm long, trumpet-shaped, and five- or six-lobed.[1][4][2] The five short stamens are inserted on top of the corolla tube.[4] The fruit is a thick-skinned edible greyish berry 10–12 cm long, 5–9 cm in diameter.[1][4]

Genipa americana is native to the tropical forests of the Americas, from tropical Florida south to Argentina.[1][5][6] It is present from sea level up to 1200 m of elevation,[3] although some argue the original native range as being northern South America.[7]

In English, the tree is known as the genip tree /ˈdʒɛnɪp/ and the fruit as genipap /ˈdʒɛnɪpæp/.[8]

Colombia: jagua, caruto, huito;[3][5] Brazil: jenipapo, formerly genipapo;[3] Costa Rica: guaitil, tapaculo;[3] Nicaragua: tapaculo, yigualtí;[3] Mexico: shagua, xagua;[3] Perú: huito, vito;[5] Argentina: ñandipá;[5] Bolivia: bí[9]

It is called we'e (*weʔe) in Proto-Tucanoan.[10]

The following compounds have been isolated from G. americana: genipic acid,[11] genipinic acid,[11] genipin[12] (all three from the fruit) and geniposidic acid (leaves).[11]

The unripe fruit of G. americana yields a liquid used as a dye for tattoos, skin painting and insect repellent.[6]

This species is also cultivated for its edible fruits, which are eaten in preserves or made into drinks, jelly, or ice cream.[6]

The wood is reported to be resistant, strong, and easily worked; it is used in the making of utensils and in construction and carpentry.[2][3]

• Jagua tattoo