- Eugenia uniflora
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Surinam Cherry 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Myrtales Family: Myrtaceae Genus: Eugenia Species: E. uniflora Binomial name Eugenia uniflora
L.The Surinam Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, or Cayenne Cherry (Eugenia uniflora) is a plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical America. Known as Pitanga throughout Brazil or Ñangapirí in surrounding countries, it is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to 8 meters in height. The leaves are glossy green, up to 4 cm long, and new leaves are copper-colored. Fragrant white flowers mature into reddish fruits up to 2 cm in diameter. The taste ranges from sweet to sour, depending on the cultivar and level of ripeness (the darker red to black range is quite sweet, while the green to orange range is strikingly tart).
The Surinam Cherry is often used in gardens as a hedge or screen. The fruit is high in Vitamin C, and its predominant food use is as a flavoring and base for jams and jellies. The tree was introduced to Bermuda for ornamental purposes but is out of control, and is now listed as invasive in Bermuda.
For Brazilian Cherry also see Jatobá.
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Eugenia uniflora
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Eugenia uniflora
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Eugenia uniflora
External links
- Information and facts about Surinam cherry
- Purdue University New Crop Resource Online Program
- Eugenia uniflora in the Global Invasive Species Database
- Eugenia uniflora information from the Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk project (PIER)
- Weed risk assessment for Eugenia uniflora for Hawaii/Pacific Retrieved 2010-06-20.
- Bermuda Department of Conservation Services, Invasive Species Page for Suriname Cherry.
Categories:- Eugenia
- Fruit
- Hawaiian cuisine
- Invasive plant species
- Trees of Brazil
- Myrtaceae stubs
- Fruit tree stubs
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