 Myrciaria floribunda, Eugenia floribunda
Family: Myrtaceae
Guavaberry, Rumberry
Origin: Tropical America
small tree 10-20
Guavaberry should not be confused with Guava. These trees can be
found growing wild in Central America, South America, and Caribbean.
It was introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Bermuda, and the Philippines.
Plants have red-brown branches and small pink and white flowers. The
fruit, which are roughly half the size of cherries, are
yellow-orange or dark-red and contain a small amount of translucent
flesh surrounding a stone. It has excellent tangy acidic flavor and
usually eaten fresh. Also used in beverages, as well as fermented
and used in alcoholic drinks, and to make jams. Guavaberry liqueur,
which is made from rum, is a common Christmas drink in Sint Maarten
and the Virgin Islands. The plant is also used for medicinal
purposes.
It grows well in dry and moist climates. Can be kept small with
pruning. Hardy to short frost, to the upper 20's F.
The guavaberry or rumberry (Myrciaria floribunda or Eugenia
Floribunda) is a fruit tree which grows in the Caribbean. The guavaberry, which should not be confused with the guava, is a close
relative of Camu Camu.
Guavaberry trees or shrubs grow in a variety of shapes and sizes
up to 60 feet high. They have red-brown branches and small pink and
white flowers. The fruit, which are roughly half the size of
cherries, are yellow-orange or dark-red and contain a small amount
of transculent flesh surrounding a stone.
Guavaberry trees can be found growing wild in Central America,
Sout h America, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto
Rico, and on many islands in the Lesser Antilles. The guavaberry has
also been introduced to Florida, Hawaii, Bermuda, and the
Philippines.
Guavaberry is used to make jams and drinks. Guavaberry liqueur,
which is made from rum, is a common Christmas drink on many of the
islands, particularly in Sint Maarten and the Virgin Islands. The
colonists from Denmark and Holland found it could flavor rum by
infusion similar to infused schnapps. In the Dominican Republic it
is associated with the eastern town of San Pedro de Macoris which
has a large population of Eastern Caribbean descent. Guavaberry is
also used for medicinal purposes. |
