Savannah Pitanga, Savanna cherry
Eugenia calycina
Family: Myrtaceae
What it is like
It is a medium sized shrub. It grows 2 m tall. The leaves are simple and sword shaped. They are smooth on both sides and almost leathery. They are 3-6 cm long. The flowers occur singly and are white. The fruit is a small, red, oval berry. There are 1 or 2 white seeds. These are easy to separate from the pulp. It looks similar to a Surinam cherry.
There are about 550 Eugenia species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical South America.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the drier savannah and scrub land areas of Brazil.
Countries/locations it is found in
Brazil (country/location of origin), South America
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for jellies and sweets.
The fruit are popular.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Cereja-do-cerrado