Cherry of the Rio Grande
Eugenia involucrata

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 5-8 m high. It grows 10-15 m high in forest. The crown is oval. The trunk is 30-40 cm across. The bark is thin and peels off. The leaves are simple and opposite. They have short leaf stalks. They are 5-9 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They have long stalks. The fruit are narrowly oval and bright red. They are shiny and have a green stalk. The pulp is sweet and juicy and with 1 or 2 large seeds.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Brazil if grows in semi-deciduous broadleaf forest. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The fruit are used for jellies, ice cream and liqueurs. They are also used for jam.

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

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seeds removed. The seeds are dried in the shade. Seed can only be stored for 2 weeks. The fresh seed are planted and germinate in 30-40 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Arcazeiro, Araza-hay, Cereja-da-terra, Cereja, Cerejeira, Cerajeira-do-mato, Cereja-do-mato, Cerejeira, Cerejo-do-rio-grande, Cerella, Ceresa, Cereza, Cereza del monte, Dzika, Guaviyu, Sanguinto, Wisnia

Synonyms

Eugenia aggregata (Vell.) Kiaersk; Phyllocalyx involucratus (DC.) O. Berg.; Phyllocaylx laevigatus O. Berg.; and several others