ATLANTIC FOREST BOI ARAÇÁ

Enormous species of Eugenia from the Pilothecium section (the same as the araçá-boi, uvaia, guayabilla and wild pear, among others) with very large fruits (up to 7.5 cm in diameter), with a very fine yellow velvety rind -greenish, with yellow pulp, aromatic, juicy and rich in vitamin C. Its flavor is acidic, but much less acidic than the araçá-boi ( Eugenia stipitata ). Its leaves are large, with a rounded base and seem to embrace the branches, hence its scientific name (sub = almost + amplexi = embrace + caulis = stem). The plant is a shrub or tree, with a scaly trunk, which can be successfully grown in pots or small spaces. Due to its small size (2 m or less in cultivation) and precocity (it starts producing at two years old), it is ideal for growing in pots or small spaces. The enormous load of large fruits on such a small plant is impressive. With the pulp excellent juices, ice creams and caipirinhas are prepared. It remained obscure for more than 200 years, when it was only known from a single specimen, on the border between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, with only flowers. Rediscovered in 2018, its fruits could finally be observed and were very similar to Eugenia stipitata, the araçá-boi, native to the Amazon.