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Eugenia brasiliensis
Myrtaceae FAMILY

Eugenia brasiliensis

Eugenia brasiliensis

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
GrowthSlow

Grumichama requires a humid, tropical to subtropical climate, growing best at very low elevations of 90 metres or less[1]. The temperature range for growth is reported to be 15 - 38°c with the optimum between 21 - 32°c[1]. Mature trees tolerate frost to -3 °c for short periods, but young shoots are affected[1]. The annual rainfall range for growth is reported to be 800 - 3,500mm with the optimum between 1,200 - 2,500mm[1]. The plant is adversely affected by a long, dry season[1]. Succeeds in full sun or part day shade[2]. Adaptable to a range of soil types, preferring a medium-acid soil, but intolerant of alkaline soils[2, 3]. Prefers high levels of organic matter in the soil[2], especially when grown on light soils[1]. Prefers a position sheltered from strong winds[1]. Generally slow-growing, the plants can commence flowering and fruiting when 4 years old from seed[4]. In the subtropics the trees flower synchronously in spring. The fruit ripens within one month and the harvest is over in a matter of days[1]. In the tropics flowering and fruiting extend over several months[1]. The fruits can vary considerably in colour and two distinct forms have been described. The species type has a black-skinned fruit; E. Brasiliensis leucocarpa has yellow fruits; E. Brasiliensis erythrocarpa has red-skinned fruits that are sweeter than the other forms[5].

Propagation

Seed - should be sown as soon as possible because it loses its viability in about 6 weeks[1]. Sow in a lightly shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. Germination rates are usually low, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 60 days[6]. Seedlings grow away very slowly[6]. Cuttings. Easy[1]. Air layering. Easy[1]. Grafting Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Eugenia+brasiliensis>

Pollinators

Insects

References

  1. [1]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics : an Inventory — Martin, F. W.; Campbell, C. W.; Rubertbe, R. M. · U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service · 1987 ↩︎A booklet giving terse details of almost 300 species of edible fruits, plus regional lists of Botanical and Common names for over 2,500 less well-known edible fruits of the tropics.
  4. [4]Trade Winds Fruit — http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/index.htm ↩︎The on-line catalogue of a company selling seeds. Gives descriptions, photos and uses of a very wide range of fruit and other food-producing plants plus ornamentals.
  5. [5]Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics — Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil. · 2000 · ISBN 85-867174-24-0 ↩︎A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
  6. [6]Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2002 · ISBN 85-86714-17-8 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
  7. [7]Dictionary of Trees; Volume 2 South America; Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology — Grandtner M.M. & Chevrette J. · Academic Press; London · 2014 · ISBN 978-0-12-396490-8 ↩︎
  8. [8]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  9. [9]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
  10. [10]Medicinal Plants of Brazil — Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A. · Reference Publications; Michigan. · 2000 · ISBN 0-917256-42-5 ↩︎An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
  11. [11]Flore Forestiere Du Globe — Chnacerel L. · Gauthier-Villars et Co.; Paris. · 1920 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎Written in French, a very detailed work on the timbers of the world. It can be downloaded from the Internet.