Cambui
Myrcia selloi

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-6 m high. The trunk is 20-30 cm across. The bark peels off and the trunk has shiny marks. The leaves are simple and shiny on both sides. They are 12-24 mm long and 5-10 mm wide. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves and at the ends of branches. They are small and white. The fruit is round and shiny. It is black and has a single soft seed.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Brazil it grows in semi-deciduous forest at altitude. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The ripe fruit are harvested and dried in the shade. The seed only remian viable for a very short time. The dried fruit with seed inside can be planted while fresh. They germinate in 30-50 days. Seedlings should be kept in light shade. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 8 months.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Cambuim, Camboi, Cambui-preto, Camboizinho, Murta-do-campo

Synonyms

Myrcia ramulosa DC.; Myrcia triflora Cambess; Myrcia microsifomata (D. Legrand) D. Legrand; Myrtus selloi Spreng.; Aulomyrcia ramulosa O. Berg.;