Birchberry, Privet stopper
Eugenia ligustrina

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 2.5 - 4 m tall. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are shiny green above. The leaves are smaller and scale like at the base of the twigs. The flowers occur singly on slender stalks. They are 2 cm across with 4 petals. The fruit are small round berries about 6 mm across.

There are about 550 Eugenia species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical South America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Puerto Rico it grows up to 200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Leeward Island, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. They can be used for jam.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be used to make a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Arraijan, Arrayan, Biriji, Cerise noire, Granadillo, Guapi-nhem, Palo de muleta

Synonyms

Eugenia buxifolia Bello non (Sw.) Willd.; Myrtus cerasina Vahl; Myrtus ligustrina Sw.;