Guamirim, Pitanga
Eugenia florida

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-10 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are opposite. Young leaves are red. The leaves are papery and smooth on both sides. They are 5-8 cm long. The flowers are in groups in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are round, smooth and shiny. They are 1-2 cm across. The pulp is thin and slightly acid.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests throughout Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Central America, Columbia, Ecuador, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, North America, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are not very popular. The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Alikoya, Amonkabekan, Arrayan, Camu camu, Ccovi quin'cho, Emi yuemo, Guamirim, Guamirim-pitanga, Guayabillo, Ipiya, Jambo, Jamelao-do-campo, Mulchi, Naimonkamo, Numi, Piitirijirida, Quima, Uva, Yarami

Synonyms

Eugenia atropunctata Steud.; Eugenia gardneriana O. Berg.; Eugenia oligoneura O. Berg.; Eugenia racemifera O. Berg.; Eugenia umbraticola Bar. Rodr.; and others