Important Myrtaceae Fruit Crops

The Myrtaceae (eucalyptus, clove or guava family) form an ecologically important family of 140 genera and some 3,800 to 5,600 species. Centres of diversity for the family are the west tropics (mainly South America), Australia, and tropical Asia. Many are cultivated as ornamentals and for the production of timber, oil, gum, tannin, resin, spices, and fruits. There are four genera of interest which produce edible fruit: Psidium, Eugenia, Syzygium, and Feijoa. Other tropical and subtropical fruit species of Myrtaceae include Campomanesia cambesseana, C. aurea, C. guaviroba, C. lineatifolia, Myrciaria cauliflora, M. dubia, and M. jaboticaba.