Finger cherry
Rhodomyrtus macrocarpa
Family: Myrtaceae
What it is like
It is a shrub or small tree. It grows to 8 m tall. The bark is brown and papery. The young shoots are covered with grey hairs. The leaves are oblong and 20 cm long by 5 cm wide. They are dull green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The flowers are white or pink. They are about 2.5 cm across. The stamens are easy to see. The flowers occur in clusters in the axils of leaves. The fruit are long and red when ripe. They are 3.5 cm long.
There are about 20 Rhodomyrtus species. They grow in the tropics.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows naturally in the rainforest. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 800 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia
How it is used for food
CAUTION: The fruit are known to produce blindness when eaten in large amounts. Fruit may be edible in small amounts.
Edible parts
Fruit, caution
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from fresh seed.
In Australia, flowering occurs from January to June and fruit is ripe from September to October.
Its other names
Local names
Mumu, Pohon ceri jari