Pitanga
Eugenia pitanga

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It develops underground stems or rhizomes. It grows 2 m tall. It forms dense thickets. The leaves are alternate. They can be papery or leathery and are shiny. They are 4-5 cm long. The flowers are white and occur singly or in groups of 2-5 in the axils of leaves. The flower stalks are 1-3 cm long. The fruit are round berries with ridges. They have a thick pulp.

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

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows naturally in savannas and grasslands in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Pacific, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also cooked and used for jellies.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Pitanga-peba

Synonyms

Eugenia camporum Morong; Eugenia dolichophylla Kiaersk.; Eugenia montigena Barb.Rodr.; Eugenia pitanga var. camporum (Morong) Mattos; Eugenia pitanga var. venosa Mattos; Luma pitanga (O. Berg) Herter; Myrtus pitanga (O. Berg) Kuntze; Stenocalyx pitanga O. Berg.; Stenocalyx pitanga var. nana Mattos;