Guaquica
Myrciaria guaquiea

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows 4-7 m high. The crown is small. The trunk is slightly crooked and 15-25 cm wide. The leaf blade is narrowly oval and 4-9 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The fruit is a yellow berry. It contains 1-2 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in moist, broad-leaved forest by the coast and in sandy soils. It is best in a sunny position and well-drained soil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), South America

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The plant is grown from seeds. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit by shaking the branches over canvas and putting the collected fruit in plastic bags to allow them to partly decompose so that the seeds can be washed out in running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh preferably in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 4-6 months.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Eugenia guaquiea Kiaersk.; Paramyrciaria guaquiea (Kiaersk.) Sobral.;