About Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume) DC.
Eugenia reinwardtiana (Blume) DC. is a shrub to small tree belonging to the plant family Myrtaceae. It is native to tropical forests of Indonesia, the Australian state of Queensland, and many Pacific Islands. Its common names include Cedar Bay cherry, beach cherry, Australian beach cherry, mountain stopper, nīoi (the Hawaiian name), and a'abang (the Chamorro name). Mature plants typically reach a height of 2 to 6 meters (6.6 to 19.7 feet). This species is particularly common around Cedar Bay National Park in northern Australia, and its edible fruit was especially popular with the hippies who lived in this area during the 1970s. Fruits start out green, then ripen to a bright orange-red color, with a sweet taste and soft flesh. The tree is cultivated to a limited extent for its edible, slightly sweet fruit. The fruit is most commonly eaten fresh out of hand, used to add flavor to drinks and candies, or made into a preserve, and it is a known source of antioxidants. This tree is well-suited for amenity horticulture in tropical regions, and it is currently grown in the median strips of roads in Cairns. It can be easily propagated from fresh seed, but this species is susceptible to infection by myrtle rust caused by Austropuccinia psidii.
