Eugenia reinwardtiana | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Eugenia |
Species: | E. reinwardtiana
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Binomial name | |
Eugenia reinwardtiana | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Eugenia reinwardtiana is a shrub to small tree in the family Myrtaceae. Native to tropical forests in northern Queensland, Indonesia,[2] and the Pacific Islands, its common names include Cedar Bay Cherry, Beach Cherry, Australian Beach, Mountain Stopper,[3][4] Nīoi (Hawaiian),[5] and A'abang (Chamorro). They are typically 2 to 6 m (6.6 to 19.7 ft) in height.[6]
The tree is particularly common around the Cedar Bay National Park in northern Australia and the edible fruit was especially popular with the hippies who lived there in the 1970s.[citation needed]
The fruits are green at first, then ripen to a bright orange-red colour with a sweet taste and soft flesh.[3]
The tree is cultivated to a limited extent for its edible sweetish fruit that is often eaten out-of-hand, used to flavour drinks and candies, or as a preserve. The fruit is a source of antioxidants.[7]
The tree is well-suited to amenity horticulture in the tropics, and is grown in the median strips in Cairns. It is readily propagated from fresh seed.[6]
This species is susceptible to Myrtle Rust (Puccinia psidii).[3]