2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Grumichama (lat. Eugenia brasiliensis) - a fruit tree belonging to the Myrtle family. The people call this culture the Brazilian cherry.
Description
Grumichama is an evergreen, straight and slender tree with a height of seven and a half to ten and a half meters, endowed with a spreading spherical crown and oval-oblong glossy leaves five to six centimeters wide and nine to sixteen centimeters long. The edges of all the leaves are slightly curved.
The flowers formed in the leaf axils are endowed with four white petals, four green sepals and a huge number of stamens equipped with pale yellow anthers.
The width of the flattened fruits of the groomechama is from 1.25 to 2 cm. And the color of the fruit can vary from dark purple (almost black) to bright red. Each fruit rests on rather long petioles, the width of which is about one to two centimeters. And under the thin skin of these fruits there is a reddish or white juicy pulp, inside which there are brownish seeds in an amount of one to three pieces. Grumichama pulp has a pleasant cherry aroma and is characterized by an excellent sweet and sour taste. In Brazil, these bizarre fruits ripen from November to February, and in Florida from April to May.
Where grows
Both in culture and in the wild, the groom grows in Paraguay and in southern Brazil, which is the birthplace of this culture.
Application
The fruits of the groom are eaten fresh, and are also actively used for filling pies. In addition, wines, juices, jellies, preserves and jams are made from them.
These amazing fruits are used not only in the food industry. Grumichama is a natural vitamin supplement that reduces the risk of developing a huge number of various ailments and improves immunity. Leaves and bark containing essential oils are used as an antipyretic, diuretic and astringent.
Also, the fruits of the groom contribute to the prevention of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the early recovery from them. They also have a diuretic effect, albeit rather weak.
Thanks to the extremely beautiful crown, the groom also has a high decorative value. These trees are actively used to create hedges, alleys, squares and parks. And in gardening they are grown to prevent soil erosion and for reforestation. Wood has no less value - it has found its application in joinery and furniture industries.
The main disadvantage of the groom is her inability to endure long transportation. That is why it is almost impossible to see this fruit in distant countries.
Growing
Grumichama is a very thermophilic tree that does not tolerate prolonged showers and temperatures below twenty-four degrees. It grows and bears fruit best in subtropical conditions.
The groom is characterized by high shade tolerance, however, she also tolerates strong sunshine very well. The most suitable for planting it will be coastal zones and plains - it is almost impossible to meet this culture in elevated areas. As for the soil, the groom needs an acidic, nutritious and well-drained soil. And she usually begins to bear fruit when she reaches four or five years of age.
When growing a groom, it is important to take into account that its fruits are often affected by harmful fruit midges. In addition, their larvae eat quickly enough for the groom.
