Iaranjinha-do-mato, Araca
Eugenia speciosa

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It is less than 1 m tall on sandy soils. It can be 10-20 m tall in forest. The leaves are papery. The leaves can be 3-5 cm long in the tree forms. The flowers occur singly and in the axils of leaves. The flower stalk is 15-20 mm long. The fruit are round and smooth. They are orange and 2-3 cm across. There are 1-3 seeds and the flesh is sweet.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows naturally in coastal river banks and altitude forest in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

Fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for jellies.

It is occasionally cultivated as a food crop.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cerejeira-amarela, Guabiroga branca

Synonyms

Phyllocalyx speciosa (Cambess.) O. Berg.; Phyllocalyx retusus O. Berg.; Phyllocalyx marginatus O. Berg.; Phyllocalyx limbatus O. Berg.; Eugenia caldensis Kiaersk.;