Uvalha
Eugenia pyriformis

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 6-13 m tall. The crown is small and open. The trunk is 30-50 cm across. The bark peels off. The leaves are simple and red when young. The leaves are narrow and 4-7 cm long. The flowers are white and occur singly in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is the size of a pear. The fruit are medium size and round with soft sweet smelling pulp. They are 2.5 cm across. It is large and orange yellow. There are 1-3 large seeds.

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

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Brazil it grows in semi-deciduous forest on the plateau. It grows between 300-1,500 m above sea level. It can tolerate light frost and drought. It grows in areas with low to medium rainfall. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Argentina, Brazil (country/location of origin), Cuba, Indonesia, Pacific, Paraguay, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Uruguay, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten raw or used for juice. The fruit pulp is used for flavouring and drinks. They are edible but sour.

It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seeds collected with running water. They are dried in the shade. Seeds can only be stored for about 60 days. Plants are grown from fresh seed. They germinate in 10-40 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 10-11 months.

Plants grow slowly. They may reach 2 m high after 2 years growth. Trees can take 10 years to start to produce fruit. Fruit matures in 60 days.

Its other names

Local names

Ubaia, Uvaia, Uvaieira, Uva jay, Uvalha-do-campo

Synonyms

Eugenia albotomentosa Cambess; Eugenia conceptionis (Kuntze) K. Schum.; Eugenia dumicola Barb.Rodr.; Eugenia hassleriana Barb.Rodr.; Eugenia phlebotomonoides Kiaersk.; Eugenia pyriformis var. uvalha (Cambess.) D. Legrand; Eugenia turbinata O. Berg.; Eugenia uvalha Cambess.; Eugenia vauthiereana O. Berg.; Eugenia viminalis O. Berg; Luma turbinata (O. Berg.) Herter; Myrciaria dumicola (Barb.Rodr.) Chodat & Hassl.; Myrtus conceptionis Kuntze; Myrtus pyriformis (Cambess.) Parodi; Pseudomyrcianthes pyriformis (Cambess.) Kausel; Stenocalyx lanceolatus O. Berg;