Tropical Plant "Perinha"
Eugenia lutescens

Characteristics - The perinha is a fruit bearer, not under cultivation, nor frequent in nature, in its natural habitat, the scrublands (cerrados) of central Brazil, Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo. It is an erect shrub, 70-90 cm tall, evergreen, branched only at the base, new branches are black, tomentose, generally forming small colonies or clumps. Leaves simple, coriaceous, glabrous, (black tomentose, on the inferior surface, when new), a greyish green color, 3-6cm long, with a very short petiole. Flowers generally solitary, axillary, white, long pedunculated, form in September and October. Fruits are globose, flattened, densely tomentose, with a thin skin, a very succulent pulp, with a pleasant, acidic flavor, and 1-3 loose seeds; they mature in October and November.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in natura as juice, and are also used to make jellies and ice cream.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.