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My wife remembers a shrub(?) that grew in the Azores that was called a bee melon or Melão de abelha.

She describes it as growing from a bush that produced small white flowers, and then a pale whitish fruit that tasted sweet and floral.

Does anyone know anything about this plant?

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  • How big were the fruits? Melon or cantaloupe sized? What colour was the flesh of the fruit (I'm assuming your description of 'pale whitish' applies to the skin) – Bamboo Jan 1 '14 at 11:48
  • They were described to me as being about the size of a blueberry. The flesh might have been a similar pale color, but she's not sure. – kettch Jan 1 '14 at 22:35
  • A Google image search for "Melão de abelha Azores" shows Passionflower (or a close relative) as the first couple of hits. I wonder if it could be a local name for it. – Niall C.♦ Jan 2 '14 at 16:19
  • @Niall C Passiflora fruits are much bigger than blueberries though, slightly larger than a kiwi fruit, say, though they are the right colour. – Bamboo Jan 2 '14 at 16:47
  • Hi! Is this the plant you're looking for? Trigona spinipes – Twilight Sparkle Feb 2 '14 at 4:32
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I don't know what it might have been, but would hazard a guess at some kind of Vaccinium - this is the group that includes blueberries, but there are white flowered and berried forms, though I've never actually come across one.

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