Eugenia luschnathiana

Grumichama

Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.

you-JEAN-ee-ah bra-zill-ee-EN-sis

Myrtaceae

Pitomba

Eugenia luschnathiana Klotzsch ex O. Berg.

lush-nath-ee-AIN-ah

(The photo is this species)

Explanation of names:   Eugenia is a Greek word for nobility. Brasiliensis means lives in Brazil.  Luschnathiana commemorates plant collector Bernhard Luschnath (1831-1883), who was active in Brazil.

Synonym for E. brasiliensis: Eugenia dombeyi Skeels (http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=EUBR7)

Natural range:  Brazil, both species

Recognition for E. brasiliensis:  Tree with large, glossy, elliptic, minutely speckled or pitted on both sides, opposite leaves on long petioles.  Flowers white, 4-petalled, with numerous stamens. The fruits dark purple to nearly black, on long pedicels along the stem, purple, to about ¾” diam., with persistent sepals.   

Eugenia luschnathiana similar but with leaves shorter then 3” and with orange fruits in spring and summer (and sometimes fall).  It reaches 20’-30’ growing slowly.  When watered amply, reportedly bears fruit at 3’ tall in about two years.  Salt-tolerant and mature plants able to withstand limited sub-freezing temperatures.  Acid soil and ample water are best.

Landscape uses (for E. brasiliensis):   Slow-growing.  Fruits after 4-5 years. Edible fruit resembling pungent cherries, forming shortly after spring flowering.  Best in rich acid soil with year-round water.  Cold-tolerant (by tropical standards)

Eugenia surinamensis is the invasive exotic Suriname-Cherry (with red ribbed fruits).

Eugenia uvula is the Uvalha with yellowish fruits.

Eugenia aggregata is the Rio Grande-Cherry with reddish or purplish elongate fruits.

Internet sources:  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/grumichama.html

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/grumichama.htm

http://collier.ifas.ufl.edu/CommHort/CommHortPubs/Brazilian%20Cherry%20or%20Grumichama%20(2).pdf

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pitomba.html

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg044

http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/Eugenia_luschnathiana.htm