Surinam Cherry / Pitanga
(Eugenia Uniflora L.)
Surinam Cherry / Pitanga
(Eugenia Uniflora L.)
This plant originates from the eastern coast of South America, including Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana, Southern Brazil, as well as parts of Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay. It is widely found on the islands of Java, Sumatra, and smaller islands in Indonesia. It is a close relative of the Water Apple (Jambu Air). It possesses properties as a traditional medicine and can be grown as an ornamental plant. Its fruit can be consumed fresh or processed.
This tree can grow anywhere, including in home yards. It thrives in warm to tropical regions. It is usually found at altitudes up to 1,800 m a.s.l., temperatures of 12–32 ºC, with rainfall ranging from 700–2,700 mm/year. It prefers moist soil with high organic matter.
Root: Taproot, brown.
Stem: Erect, woody, with brown bark.
Leaves: Simple, tapering base, entire margins, pinnate venation, covered with a waxy layer. Young leaves are dark red.
Flowers: Creamy yellow color, small size.
Fruit: Young fruit is green, turning red as it matures, with a sour taste. It is a round berry shape, dark reddish-black in color, with a grooved surface.
Seeds: Small, hard, and brown.
Generative propagation is from mature seeds.
Vegetative propagation uses tip cuttings, air layering (cangkok), budding (okulasi), and ground layering (merunduk).
It helps maintain body immunity, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, relieves rheumatic pain, is anticancer and antitumor, and treats diarrhea.
Carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, tannins, citronellal, geranyl acetate, geranial, cineole, terpinene, sesquiterpenes, and polytenes.
Diarrhea
Preparation: Wash 15 g of fresh Dewandaru leaves, then pound until smooth. Brew with 1/2 glass of boiled water and strain.
Dosage: Drink the strained mixture twice a day, in the morning and evening, in equal amounts.
Socfindo Conservation. 2023. Dewandaru. https://www.socfindoconservation.co.id/plant/419 (24-05-2023)