Melicoccus bijugatus is a fruit-bearing tree in the soapberry family Quenepe, native or naturalized across the New World tropics including South and Central America, and parts of the Caribbean. Phylogeny of Melicoccus based on morphological traits, showing the placement of M.
The genus Melicoccus was first described by Patrick Browne, an Irish physician and botanist, in 1756. This description was based on M. In 1760, Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin described the first species in Browne’s genus, which he named M. In 1888 German taxonomist Ludwig Radlkofer placed Melicoccus in the tribe Melicocceae together with eight other genera. The specific epithet bijugatus refers to the bijugate leaves, leaves which consist of two pairs of leaflets.
Melicoccus bijugatus is native to northern South America and naturalised in coastal and dry forest in Central America, the Caribbean and parts of the Old World tropics. They are typically dioecious plants, however autogamous trees occur from time to time. Flowers have four petals and eight stamens and produce void, green drupes which are 2. When ripe, the fruits have a bittersweet, wine-like flavour and have mild laxative properties. They are extremely rich in iron and phosphorus.