Black pitanga
Eugenia sulcata

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 3-5 m high. The trunk is crooked and 15-25 cm across. The bark is reddish-brown. The young leaves are red. The leaves are 3-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The fruit are round and smooth. They have a sweetish pulp.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in humid forest near the Atlantic in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit. The ripe fruit are shaken from the branches into canvas and then put into plastic bags to partly decompose and the seeds removed in running water. The seeds need to be planted fresh and are best in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 30-40 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Stenocalyx sulcatus (Spring ex Mart.) O. Berg; and others