Eugenia brasiliensis Lamk

Small, evergreen tree, 7-10(-20) m tall; crown narrow, compact; trunk short with grey bark, branches suberect. Leaves opposite, ovate to obovate-elliptic, 10-12 cm x 5-6 cm, leathery, glossy, minutely pitted on both surfaces, margin recurved; petiole 3-4 mm long; leaves persist for 2 years, buds large with velvety scales, young shoots rosy. Flowers solitary, axillary, 2.5 cm wide, white, slightly fragrant; pedicle 3 cm; sepals 4, 8 mm long, green; petals 4, 15 mm long, white; stamens about 100, white. Fruit a globose to oblate berry, up to 3-5 cm in diameter, with persistent sepals at apex, hanging on long, slender pedicel, bright-red, dark purple to nearly black, or white, juicy, soft, sweet. Seeds one to several, globose to angular, about 1 cm in diameter, hard, light brown to grey-green. Three varieties have been distinguished, based on little more than fruit colour: var iocarpus Berg (= var. dombeyi), fruits deep violet; var erythrocarpus Berg, fruit red; var. leucocarpus Berg, fruits white, tallest trees, less common.

In the subtropics the trees flower synchronously in spring. The fruit ripens within one month and the harvest is over in a matter of days. In the tropics flowering and fruiting extend over several months; in Rio de Janeiro the trees flower from October to February.

Deep sandy loams with good fertility, but acid rather than calcareous, are preferred.

The grumichama requires a humid, tropical to subtropical climate. Mature trees tolerate frost to -3 deg. C for short periods, but young shoots are affected.

The grumichama occurs wild and cultivated in coastal southern Brazil (Parana, Santa Catarina). It is also cultivated in Paraguay and the United States (Florida, Hawaii) and occasionally planted elsewhere in the tropics and subtropics.

The tree is commonly grown from seed, though propagation through cutting, air layering and grafting is easy. Seeds lose their viability in about 6 weeks.

Little or no pruning is required until the tree ages, as the canopy remains compact. On light soils applications of organic matter as manure or mulch are recommended. Light shade and protection from strong winds are preferred.

Diseases: Limb dieback caused by an unknown pathogen has been reported from Florida. Pests: The Mediterranean fruit fly can be a serious pest in Hawaii.

Ornamental: Its dark, glossy leaves, reddish young shoots and shapely canopy make the tree an attractive ornamental.

Food: The fruit of the grumichama is appreciated more than that of several other, more widely grown Eugenia species. It is eaten fresh when ripe, or made into jams, pies or preserves when half ripe. However, the persistent sepals ('rabbit ears') and the modest flesh to seed ratio limit the appeal of the fruit. Medicine: An infusion of 10 g of leaves or bark in 300 mL water is used as an aromatic, astringent diuretic and as a treatment for rheumatism in Brazil.