P. Alata is a cold hardy evergreen vine native to the amazonian regions of Peru and Brasil. The indigenous name “ouvaca” means “red star”, referring to it’s flowers. The seductive flowers are intensely fragrant almost too sweet handle.
Cross pollination with a second vine is recommended for larger fruits. Can be done by hand with a brush if you are really ambitious. Thriving in full sun, ouvaca will attract bees, butterflies and birds.
The fruit is sweet and best eaten fresh. Drinks are not that delightful but could be made into sauces or deserts. The edible interior of the thick shell is soft an flavorless and could be used to thicken juices.
FoodForest 