Eugenia uniflora

Eugenia uniflora is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, native to tropical South America's east coast, ranging from Suriname, French Guiana to southern Brazil, as well as Uruguay and parts of Paraguay and Argentina.

It is also known as Brazilian cherry, Cayenne cherry, cerisier carré, monkimonki kersie, ñangapirí, pitanga, shimarucu, and Suriname cherry.

It is often used in gardens as a hedge or screen.

It produces small, ribbed fruits (2 to 4 centimetres or 3⁄4 to 1+1⁄2 in), starting as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet, and maroon as they ripen.

The tree was introduced to Bermuda for ornamental purposes, but is now out of control and listed as an invasive species.

The tree has also been introduced to Florida.

Eugenia uniflora is a large shrub or small tree with a conical form, growing slowly to 8 metres (26 ft) high. When bruised, crushed, or cut, the leaves and branches have a spicy resinous fragrance, which can cause respiratory discomfort in susceptible individuals. The leaves are without stipules, ovate, glossy, and held in opposite pairs. New leaves are bronze, copper, or coppery-pinkish in color, maturing to deep glossy green, up to 4 centimetres (1+1⁄2 in) long. During winter, the leaves turn red.

Flowers have four white petals and are borne on long, slender stalks, with a conspicuous central cluster of white stamens ending in yellow anthers. Flowers develop into ribbed fruits 2 to 4 centimetres (3⁄4 to 1+1⁄2 in) long, starting as green, then ranging through orange, scarlet, and maroon as they ripen. Because fruit-eating birds distribute the seeds, they can become a weed in suitable tropical and subtropical habitats, displacing native flora.