Eugenia brasiliensis

Eugenia brasiliensis

The Brazilian cherry or grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. 1789) is an arboreal species belonging to the Myrtaceae family.

Systematic –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subkingdom Tracheobionta,
Spermatophyta Superdivision,
Division Magnoliophyta,
Class Magnoliopsida,
Subclass Rosidae,
Order Myrtales,
Myrtaceae family,
Genus Eugenia
Species E. brasiliensis.
The terms are synonymous:
– Eugenia bracteolaris Lam. ex DC.;
– Eugenia dombeyi (Spreng.) Skeels;
– Eugenia brasiliensis var. erythrocarpa Cambess.;
– Eugenia brasiliensis var. leucocarpa Cambess.;
– Eugenia filipes Baill.;
– Eugenia filipes Baillon in Grandidier;
– Eugenia ubensis Cambess.;
– Myrtus dombeyi Spreng. nom. illeg.;
– Myrtus grumixama Vell.;
– Stenocalyx brasiliensis (Lam.) O.Berg;
– Stenocalyx brasiliensis var. erythrocarpa (Cambess.) O.Berg;
– Stenocalyx brasiliensis var. iocarpa O.Berg;
– Stenocalyx brasiliensis var. leucocarpa (Cambess.) O.Berg;
– Stenocalyx brasiliensis var. silvestris O.Berg;
– Stenocalyx ubensis (Cambess.) O.Berg

Etymology –
The term Eugenia is in honor of the general, diplomat and patron Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736).
The specific epithet brasiliensis refers to Brazil, as its place of origin.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Eugenia brasiliensis is a plant native to southern Brazil (Paranà, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo).
Its habitat is that of the Atlantic rainforest, on alluvial plains and gentle slopes and on predominantly sandy soils. However, in these habitats it is a rare plant.

Description –
Eugenia brasiliensis is an evergreen tree, with an upright habit, up to about 10 m tall and with dense foliage.
The bark is greyish and with age it cracks and peels into papery strips and the trunk can have a diameter of 25 – 40 cm.
The leaves are located on a petiole about 1 cm long; they are opposite, obovate or elliptical with entire curved margins, leathery, 8-15 cm long and about 5 cm wide, of a shiny dark green color above, light green below; the young shoots are dark purple in color.
The flowers have dimensions of approximately 2.5 cm in diameter, at the end of a long peduncle; they are generally solitary or in groups of 2-3; they grow in the axils of the leaves of the young shoots, have 4 green sepals, 4 white petals and about a hundred white stamens; in its places of origin it can flourish sporadically throughout the year.
The fruits, which ripen quickly, within a month of flowering, are globose berries 1.2-2.5 cm in diameter, with persistent sepals at the end, dark purple to almost black in color when ripe and light pulp, with a flavor similar to that of cherries; there are varieties with yellow and red fruit.
Inside there are usually from one to three greyish seeds.

Cultivation –
Eugenia brasiliensis is a plant that grows in tree or shrub form whose edible fruits are highly appreciated in its native range, where they are collected in their natural state or also grown in home gardens.
The plant is also grown in gardens as an ornamental and for its edible fruit outside its native range in tropical and subtropical areas such as Florida, Hawaii and Paraguay.
Furthermore, due to its narrow crown, it has been recommended for street planting and landscaping.
It is a plant suitable for areas with a humid subtropical and marginally warm temperate climate where it can resist drops in temperature down to around -3 °C for a short period.
It should be noted that the temperature range for growth is between 15 and 38 °C, with an optimal value between 21 and 32 °C. Furthermore, the annual rainfall range for growth is between 800 and 3,500 mm, with an optimal value between 1,200 and 2,500 mm.
The plant is negatively affected by a long and dry season.
For its cultivation it prefers an exposure in full sun, but adapts to a light shade, and deep, sandy soils, rich in organic substance, preferably acidic, and availability of water throughout the year, not tolerating dry periods, it goes therefore watered regularly if grown in climates with little or no rainy summers. Can be used as an isolated specimen in parks and gardens or to create barriers, including windbreaks.
It is generally a slow growing plant; the plants can begin to flower and bear fruit, if reproduced from seed, when they are 4 years old.
In subtropical areas, trees bloom synchronously in spring. The fruit ripens within a month and the harvest is finished in a few days.
In the tropics, flowering and fruiting extend for several months.
It generally reproduces by seed which germinates in about a month; fruiting begins from the fourth-fifth year of age. Cutting and layering are used if you want to reproduce a particular variety.

Customs and Traditions –
Eugenia brasiliensis is a plant known by various common names; among these we report: Brazil-cherry, Brazilian plum, grumichama, Spanish cherry (English); cerisier du Brésil, jambosier du Brésil (French); grumixama, grumixameira (Portuguese); cereza brasileña (Spanish); brasilianische kirschmyrte (German).
Its small fruits vary in color from purple to black and have a sweet flavor reminiscent of cherry or plum.
The internal pulp of the fruit is yellowish white in appearance, it is mainly used for fresh consumption but can also be used to prepare jams, jellies and cakes.
The fruits are eaten fresh or used in desserts and ice creams and to make jams.
Among other uses, note that the bark and leaves contain large quantities of tannins, reportedly among the highest found in plants (34% in the bark).
The bark and leaves contain 1.5% of an essential oil and have a pleasant aromatic smell.
The wood is cross-grained, compact, hard, moderately heavy, not very elastic, fragile, of medium durability. It is easy to work with; it is used for lathe work, cabinet making, carpentry in general, coverings and boxes.
From an ecological point of view, its slow growth and low dispersal rate make it rare and it is generally considered a species at risk of extinction.

Preparation Method –
Eugenia brasiliensis is a plant used for various purposes, from ornamental to food, medicinal and for the use of its wood.
The fruits, excellent when fresh, are eaten raw or used in jams, jellies, etc.
Persistent sepals (“rabbit ears”) and modest flesh-to-seed ratio limit the fruit’s attractiveness.
In the medicinal field, in Brazil, an infusion of 10 g of leaves or bark in 300 ml of water is used as an aromatic diuretic, astringent and as a treatment for rheumatism.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d’Italia, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Photo source:
– https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Eugenia_brasiliensis#/media/File:Eugenia_brasiliensis_-_Jardim_Bot%C3%A2nico_de_S%C3%A3o_Paulo_-_IMG_0398.jpg

Attention: Pharmaceutical applications and food uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; we therefore decline any responsibility for their use for healing, aesthetic or food purposes.