Cambuci
Campomanesia phaea

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 3-5 m high. The trunk is short and 20-30 cm across. The bark peels off. The leaves are simple. They are 7-10 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. The flowers are white and usually occur singly. The fruit is a green berry. It is oval and 4-6 cm across. The seeds are soft.

There are at least 11 Campomanesia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on slopes and in the highlands in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for juice and made into jelly. The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are appreciated.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and put into a heap to start rotting to make it easier to remove seeds. These are then squeezed out and washed in running water. They are dried in the shade. Fresh seed should be planted. Seeds germinate in 10-30 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 9 months.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Cambucizeiro, Flying saucer fruit

Synonyms

Abbevillea phaea O. Berg.; Paivaea langsdorfii O. Berg.; Paivaea langsdorffii O. Berg.; Paivaea phaea (O. Berg) Mattos; and others