Eugenia stipitata

Eugenia stipitata (Araza, Portuguese common names araçá, araçá-boi Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɾɐˈsa ˈboj], Spanish common name arazá, from Guarani arasa; also known as membrillo in Ecuador) is a fruit tree native to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It is 2-5 m tall. The tree branches from the base. The leaves are simple, opposite and oval. They are 6-18 cm long by 3.5-9.5 cm wide. The base is rounded or slightly heart shaped. The flowers are in the axils of leaves in groups. There are usually 2-5 yellow flowers 1 cm wide. The fruit is the size of a large sized guava. They can be 12-14 cm wide. They are bright yellow. The pulp is sour-acid and pleasant. Pollination is by insects. Fruit contain 8-10 irregular shaped seeds.

Edible Uses

The fresh fruit can be used directly but is best with the addition of sugar because of its high acidity. In Colombia, the economic interest of this fruit has increased since the end of the 20th century, and the fruit is at present sold by growers’ associations and even in supermarkets, while the exports to the UK have just started. The USA is in the process of registering arazá to be sold fresh. Another use of this fruit tree is to rehabilitate exhausted land and also for ornamental purposes.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sometimes eaten fresh but they are acidic. They are more commonly used to flavour sweets, ice-cream and drinks. Normally the fruit need to be sweetened before eating.

Medicinal Uses

Some people eat the fruit when unripe in order to eliminate parasites. The bark is used medicinally. No more information.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows best in a dry tropical climate. It can stand some cold for short periods. It grows naturally in the non flooding areas of the Amazon in Brazil. It grows in regions with a temperature of 26°C. The rainfall is 2000-2500 mm per year. It suits an open location.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, South America, USA, Venezuela,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed, air-layering, grafting or budding. Fresh seed should be used. Stored seeds are difficult to get to germinate.

Propagation

Seed - pre-soaking the seeds in water or peeling them will help germination. The seeds lose more than 70% of their viability after 40 days in cold storage.

Other Uses

The fibrous bark is used to make clothes. This is a small tree whose size and shape allow it to mix well with many tree crops. Some specimens are bushy, while others have an architecture similar to cacao trees. Although relatively slow growing, it is a suitable species for rehabilitating exhausted land.

Production

Seedlings grows slowly at first. Fruit mature quickly so need to be harvested readily. A fruit can weigh 740 g. The production can be 20-30 tonnes per hectare per year.

Other Information

It is sold in local markets. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Notes

They are high in Vitamin C - 2x oranges. There are about 550 Eugenia species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical South America. It has high antioxidant activity.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Arari, Arasa, Araza, Guayaba brasilera, Jo'yaarari, Kamush, Membrillo del oriente, Membrillo silvestre, Pichi, Uba-caxi

References (25)

• Bennett, B. C., 1990, Useful Plants of Amazonian Ecuador. US Agency for International Development. Fifth Progress Report. New York Botanical Gardens. p 39
• Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition. http://www.b4fn.org/countries/brazil/
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 158
• Fieldiana, Bot. 29:219. 1956
• Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 243

More from Myrtaceae

Eugenia ligustrina

Birchberry, Privet stopper

Eugenia louvelii

Eugenia luschnathiana

Pitomba

🌱

Eugenia mabaeoides

Eugenia macrosperma

Eugenia magnifica

Cuxita.