Eugenia luschnathiana

Berg ex Hook. & Jackson

Pitomba

Myrtaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds 63 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Eugenia luschnathiana is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to the state of Bahia, Brazil. The fruit is known as pitomba-da-bahia, and is also called uvalha do campo, ubaia do campo or uvalheira in Brazil. It shares the name pitomba with another South American species, Talisia esculenta. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 4–10 m high. The leaves are opposite, 3–7 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, dark green above, pale below, with a short petiole and a leathery texture. The flowers are 1.5–2 cm diameter, with four (rarely five) yellowish-white petals. The fruit is a globose, bright orange-yellow berry 2.5–5 cm long, containing one or two (rarely up to four) 1 cm diameter seeds.

Description

A tree. It grows up to 9 m tall and spreading about 5 m wide. The bark is mottled brown. It has glossy leaves. They are dark green above and pale green underneath. It is evergreen. The fruit are yellow and about 2.5 cm long. They contain 1 to 4 seeds. They have a rose smell.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or made into a jelly. The ripe fruit is bright orange, thin-skinned with a soft, melting, juicy flesh and a highly aromatic, slightly acid flavour. Soft and sweet like an apricot. The globose fruit is about 25mm in diameter. Seed - roasted.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They can be used for jams and jellies. The seeds are roasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Not specified in available data.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to Brazil. It can grow in subtropical climates but produces a slower growing smaller tree. It can grow on various types of soils. It cannot tolerate alkaline soils. It does best in deep, humid acid soils. It can be grafted onto Eugenia uniflora which can tolerate alkaline soils. It cannot tolerate waterlogging. It cannot tolerate drought especially at flowering and fruiting. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Australia, Brazil*, Cuba, Mexico, South America, West Indies,

Cultivation

It is commonly grown from seed. It can be grafted using veneer grafts. Seeds are collected from ripe fruit and the pulp removed. Seeds are planted fresh. They are best in part shade. Seedlings emerge in 40-50 days.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days.

Other Uses

The wood is of average texture, straight-grained, moderately heavy, hard, slightly susceptible to wood-eating organisms. Because of its small dimensions, it is only used for fuel and to make charcoal.

Production

It is fairly slow growing. Grafted trees take 3-4 years before producing fruit while seedling trees take 6-9 years to fruiting. Fruit mature after 4-6 weeks from flowering.

Other Information

It is a popular fruit. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Notes

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

Synonyms

Eugenia lucescens Nied.Phyllocalyx luschnathianum O.Berg.

Also Known As

Cucuiri, Uvalha de Campa, Uvalheira

References (23)

Darley, J.J., 1993, Know and Enjoy Tropical Fruit. P & S Publishers. p 132
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 159 (As Phyllocalyx luschnathianus)
Garner, R.J., and Chaudhri, S.A., (Ed.) 1976, The Propagation of Tropical fruit Trees. FAO/CAB. p 351
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 239
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 299

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