Fox cherry, Turtle cherry, Turtle berry
Eugenia patrisii

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen tree. It grows 5-7 m high. It can be 15 m high. Young branches are hairy. The leaves are papery. They are smooth above but slightly hairy underneath. They are 4-6 cm long. The leaf stalk has a groove along it. The flowers are in groups in or near the axils of leaves. The flowers are white. The fruit is round and 1-3 cm across. It has a thin skin and thick pulp. The pulp is edible. There are 1-3 seeds.

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

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally along the Amazon near black rivers.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jellies and icecream.

A popular fruit. It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit and the pulp removed. Seeds need to be planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 30-40 days.

Plants are grown slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Cambui, Hichu, Hitchu, Kuwapitsyano, Majako shodo, Pendanga, Pendango, Pi kam mere, Sacha guayaba, Ubaia, Waku ahuka

Synonyms

Eugenia baruensis Griseb.; Eugenia berlynensis O. Berg.; Eugenia inocarpa DC.; Eugenia teffensis O.Berg.; Eugenia vellozii O.Berg.; Myrtus patrisii (Vahl) O. Berg.; Stenocalyx patrisii (M.Vahl.) O.Berg.;