Eugenia angustissima
Fine Leaved Cherry
Eugenia angustissima
One of the most eye catching Eugenias and not for it’s fruit! E. angustissima has distinct leaf morphology that, I think, is what really draws the collectors in. This tree almost looks more like a rosemary bush than a Myrtaceaeous fruit! Little twiggy branches with small thin leaves are punctuated with bright yellow berries that turn red when ripe. The fruit isn’t particularly large but is said to be great eaten out of hand. I’m not sure this will necessarily be a major crop plant, but a very valued ornamental in the yards of those who love to munch on what they grow!
E. angustissima comes from some of the harsher drier environments of Brazil, these are known as the Cerrado and the Caatinga. They are areas that you would likely imagine as being a Savannah. They have a broad diversity of species ranging from small forbs to large shrubs and trees. Some of the plants in these habitats have adaptations to survive fires, such as sprouting from the roots!
This species of Eugenia is definitely an essential in the serious Eugenia collectors garden.
Family: Myrtaceae
Name: Eugenia angustissima
Common Name / Native Name: Fine Leaved Cherry, Cereja de folhas finissimas
Range: Cerrado & Caatinga; Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do sul, Goias, & Tocantins
Sun: Full sun/Part Shade
Height: 1-3 feet
Width: 1-3 feet
Foliage: Opposite, very fine pine needle like leaves
Flower: Small white/yellow flowers
Fruit: Small Red Orange-Red fruits with a decent flesh to seed ratio
Soil Type/ pH: Prefers acidic soils but will tolerate higher pH
USDA Climate Zones: Unknown
Cold Hardiness: Unknown
Edibility: Supposedly a good fruit eaten out of hand.
Age to maturity: Unknown
Sources:
https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=47760
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:593607-1
https://www.colecionandofrutas.com.br/eugeniaangustissima.htm