Common Name: Cherry of the Rio Grande

General Information

Eugenia involucrata is a deciduous tree with a dense, oval crown; it can grow 5 - 15 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[, ].
Commonly harvested from the wild for local use as a food, the plant is abundantly cultivated in Rio Grande do Sul for its edible fruits which are sold in local markets, The plant is also grown as an ornamental[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern and eastern Brazil and Bolivia.

Habitat

Semi-deciduous forests, favouring the more open, secondary formations, usually above 350 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Eugenia involucrata is a plant of low to moderate elevations in the subtropics, found at elevations above 350 metres in the tropics. Mature trees are able to withstand short periods with temperatures down to -6°c[].
Prefers a sunny position[], succeeding in a variety of soils[]. Plants are intolerant of drought[].
A slow-growing plant[].
Plants can commence flowering and fruiting when 5 years old from seed[].
Flowers and fruit are produced mainly on new growth[].
The plant is quite variable in the size and quality of its fruit. There is a form known as dulcissima with a rounder fruit that is very sweet but with a less firm, lighter flesh[]. Another form has much larger fruits that can be 5cm long with a firm, sweet flesh[].
Plants are at least partially self-fertile, but fruit set is better with cross-pollination[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw and made into jams and jellies[, , ]. Rich in pectin[]. The fruits are eaten fresh out of hand, juiced, preserved, or used to make liqueurs[]. A thick, fleshy, succulent pulp with a very pleasant, sweet or subacid flavour[, ]. The reddish-purple fruit is about 30mm long and 20mm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is compact, moderately heavy, elastic, of good natural durability. It is used for making tool handles and other agricultural implements[].
The wood is used for making charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A high germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 40 days[]. Seedlings grow away slowly[].

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