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Characteristics of Suriname Cherry Tree (Eugenia uniflora) in the Wild

Published by: Admin on August 17, 2020
Categorized in: Fruit Tree

Suriname cherry or Pitanga is an annual plant that grows in the form of a medium-sized tree with a height of 3-5 meters.

Suriname cherry is included in the Myrtaceae family, native to the tropical coast of South America, from Suriname, Guyana, France to southern Brazil, as well as parts of Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.

In Brazil, Uruguay, and the surrounding countries the Surinam cherry tree is very popular with the local name Pitanga or Nangapiri.

Characteristics of Suriname Cherry Leaf

Eugenia uniflora Leaf — Source : flickr.com/LiChieh Pan

The leaves are single, the base is tapered, the edges are flat, the edges are pinnate, coated with a kind of wax, and are long. Interestingly, the young leaves are red.

When the leaves are crushed, they give off an odor that repels flies. Suriname cherry leaves are also used as a tea in parts of Uruguay.

Characteristics of Suriname Cherry Flower

Eugenia uniflora Flower — Source : flickr.com/Luiz Ramos

Suriname cherry blossoms are milky yellow in color and small, have 4 white petals, a striking white central cluster of stamens, and yellow anthers.

Characteristics of Suriname Cherry Fruit

Eugenia uniflora Fruit — Source : flickr.com/Vale da Neblina

The fruit of the ripe Suriname cherry is blackish-red, round, and the seeds are small, hard, brown.

The taste of the Surinamese sweet cherry is slightly sour, depending on the cultivar and degree of maturity. The predominant use of the fruit is as a flavoring and base for jams and jellies. Suriname cherry fruit itself is rich in vitamin C and a source of vitamin A.

Characteristics of Suriname Cherry Tree

Eugenia uniflora Tree — Source : flickr.com/Museu de Ciências Naturais ULBRA

Suriname cherry is a tree that is relatively resistant to pests, easy to grow, and contains high antioxidants. It can grow well in nutrient-rich soil and full sun.

BENEFITS OF SURINAME CHERRY

Suriname cherry has several significant pharmacological properties. Its essential oil is antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antitumor and analgesic, and has demonstrated antiviral and antifungal activity.

Suriname cherry also exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties and is widely used as a folk remedy for stomach upset in South America.

HOW TO CULTIVATE SURINAME CHERRY TREE

To reproduce this tree you can do seed seedlings or stem grafts. Plant cultivators prefer grafting over seedlings because it saves time and increases life success.