Suriname cherry or pitanga
Family Myrtaceae
Eugenia uniflora, the Suriname cherry or pitanga (E. uniflora 1), is a shrub or small tree, up to 7 m high, with small opposite leaves and cream-coloured flowers, 1 cm across, singly or in axillary clusters. The fruits are 2-3 cm across, dark red in colour and deeply 8-ribbed (E. uniflora 2), containing a single seed.
Distribution and use
The pitanga is a native of Brazil and today grown in many tropical and subtropical countries for its fruits, which are rich in vitamin C, and are eaten fresh or made into preserves and pies.