Jaboticaba de cabinho, Jaboticaba cafe
Plinia peruviana

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses many leaves throughout the year. It grows 4-8 m high. The branches hang down. The leaves are thin and hairy along the main vein. They are 2-5 cm long. The flowers are in clusters along the trunk and branches. The fruit are purplish-black with white pulp. It is 2-3 cm wide.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest near the Atlantic in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are enjoyed.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds are collected from ripe fruit by shaking the branches over canvas and putting the fruit in plastic bags to allow them to partly decompose so that the seeds can be washed out under running water. Seeds need to be planted fresh in light shade. Seedlings emerge in 20-30 days.

Plants grow at a moderate rate.

Its other names

Local names

Guapuru, Jacoticabeira, Yvapuru

Synonyms

Eugenia cauliflora Miq.; Eugenia guapurium DC.; Eugenia rabeniana Kiaersk.; Guapurium fruticosum Spreng.; Guapurium peruvianum Poir.; Myrciaria peruvianum (Poir.) Mattos; Myrciaria peruviana var. trunciflora Mattos; Myrciaria trunciflora O. Berg; Plinia trunciflora (O. Berg.) Kausel;