Common Name:

General Information

Eugenia foetida is an upright, evergreen shrub or small tree growing 4.5 - 12 metres tall[], 692. The trunk can be up to 12cm in diameter, though it is often short with several branches appearing near the ground[, ]. Although this species can eventually reach the stature of a small tree on favourable sites, much of its habitat is so difficult that the plant completes its life cycle whilst still less than 5 metres tall[].
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild for local use. The plant is sometimes planted as a hedge or a street tree[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

C. America - Belize, Guatemala, Mexico; Caribbean - Leeward Islands to Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas; Southeastern N. America - Florida.

Habitat

In advanced deciduous forest, or in second growth, in calcareous regions, near sea level[]. Coastal hammocks[]. An intermediate or codominant species of the understorey in low-basal area, short-statured, dry forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eugenia foetida is a plant of lowland areas in the subtropics and the tropics, it can tolerate occasional short-lived frosts and freezes[]. The mean annual rainfall of its native range in Puerto Rico ranges from 750 - 1,700 mm[].
Succeeds in moderately shady positions[, ]. Succeeds in most soils[], though it most frequently grows in areas underlain by limestone rock, usually on ridges and hill sides. It grows on clay and coarse-textured soils, rocky rubble, and often directly into cracks in fractured rock[]. The plant has a deep taproot and a lateral root system of slender, flexible to moderately stiff brown roots, thus making established plants very drought tolerant[, ].
The foliage, especially when crushed, emits a mild, offensive, skunk-like odour[]. The aromatic compounds released from the leaves of this species apparently are responsible for the slight musky smell present in forests in Puerto Rico where it is common[].
A moderate to slow growing species, it can live for 30 years or more[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[, , ]. Fleshy[]. The dark red to blackish, globose fruit is up to 12mm long, containing 1 - 2 small seeds[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Responding well to trimming, the plant can be used as a hedge[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is a dark reddish-brown, the sapwood is light brown. The close-grained wood is very strong, very heavy and exceedingly hard. It is used locally in cabinet work[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - Around 51% of freshly harvested seeds germinated, beginning 69 days after sowing. The seedlings are slow-growing[].

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