Eugenia uniflora is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical South America's east coast, ranging from Suriname, French Guiana to southern Brazil, as well as Uruguay and parts of Paraguay and Argentina.

It is also known as Brazilian cherry, cerisier carré, monkimonki kersie, ñangapirí, pitanga, shimarucu, and Suriname cherry.

It is often used in gardens as a hedge or screen.

It produces small, ribbed fruits (2 to 4 centimetres or 3⁄4 to 1+1⁄2 in), starting as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet, and maroon as they ripen.

The tree was introduced to Bermuda for ornamental purposes, but is now out of control and listed as an invasive species.

The tree has also been introduced to Florida.

Description

Eugenia uniflora is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to high. When bruised, crushed, or cut, the leaves and branches have a spicy resinous fragrance, which can cause respiratory discomfort in susceptible individuals. The leaves are without stipules, ovate, glossy, and held in opposite pairs. The fruit is high in vitamin C and a source of provitamin A.

The leaves are also used for tea in certain parts of Uruguay.

Use as an insect repellent

The leaves are spread on some house floors in Brazil so that they exude a smell that repels flies when crushed underfoot.

Medical uses

Eugenia uniflora has several significant pharmacological properties. Its essential oil is antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumor and analgesic, and it has shown antiviral and antifungal activity. It has performed against microorganisms such as Trichomonas gallinae (in vitro), Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis.

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File:Starr 080610-8163 Eugenia uniflora.jpg|Flowers

File:Flor_da_pitangueira_(do_tupi_'ybapytanga),_Eugenia_uniflora_-_55218978890.jpg|Flower

Image:Eugenia_uniflora_fruits.jpg|Fruits

Image:Eugenia_unifloraZZ.jpg|Trunk

Image:Eugenia_flor.JPG|Flower

Image:Eugenia uniflora -young leaves.jpg|Young leaves

File:Z Eugenia uniflora, Pitanga140525NI1.JPG|Fruits on tree

File:ריבת פיטנגו.jpg|Pitanga jam

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References

  • Purdue University New Crop Resource Online Program
  • Eugenia uniflora in the Global Invasive Species Database
  • Eugenia uniflora information from the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
  • Weed risk assessment for Eugenia uniflora for Hawaii/Pacific Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  • Bermuda Department of Conservation Services, Invasive Species Page for Suriname Cherry.