Eugenia punicifolia

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pseudomyrcianthes kochiana
• Psidium sylvestre
• Eugenia pyramidalis var. angustifolia
• Eugenia suffruticosa var. laeta
• Eugenia surinamensis var. impunctata
• Eugenia suffruticosa var. latifolia
• Eugenia suffruticosa var. opaca
• Eugenia surinamensis var. punctata
• Eugenia fruticulosa
• Eugenia subalterna
• Eugenia sabulosa
• Eugenia rubrescens
• Eugenia sancta
• Eugenia suffruticosa
• Eugenia surinamensis
• Eugenia subcorymbosa
• Eugenia spathophylla
• Eugenia psychotrioides
• Eugenia psammophila
• Eugenia polyphylla
• Eugenia prominens
• Eugenia platyclada
• Eugenia mugiensis
• Eugenia myrtillifolia
• Eugenia oleifolia
• Eugenia nhanica
• Eugenia diantha
• Eugenia diantha var. glabra
• Eugenia dasyantha
• Eugenia decorticans
• Eugenia coarensis
• Eugenia ciarensis
• Eugenia clinocarpa
• Eugenia flava
• Eugenia glareosa
• Eugenia diversiflora
• Eugenia dipoda
• Eugenia erythroxyloides
• Eugenia macroclada
• Eugenia linearifolia
• Eugenia kochiana
• Eugenia kunthiana
• Myrtus punicifolia
• Myrtus oleifolia
• Myrtus arbutifolia
• Eugenia calycolpoides
• Eugenia arbutifolia
• Eugenia arctostaphyloides
• Eugenia ambigua
• Eugenia pungens var. subalterna
• Eugenia punicifolia var. brachypoda
• Eugenia pyrroclada var. columbiensis
• Eugenia pyrroclada var. guianensis
• Eugenia polyphylla var. obovata
• Eugenia platyclada var. cuneata
• Eugenia platyclada var. microphylla
• Eugenia platyclada var. multiflora
• Eugenia platyclada var. ovalis
• Eugenia vaga var. brachypoda
• Eugenia vaga var. brasiliensis
• Eugenia vaga var. dipoda
• Eugenia vaga var. pumila
• Eugenia vaga var. punicifolia
• Eugenia vaga var. rigida
• Eugenia linearifolia var. oppositifolia
• Eugenia linearifolia var. ternifolia
• Eugenia kunthiana var. opaca
• Eugenia kunthiana var. pellucida
• Eugenia diantha var. ciliata
• Eugenia dipoda var. brachypoda
• Eugenia dipoda f. grandifolia
• Eugenia arbutifolia var. obscura
• Eugenia arbutifolia var. pallida
• Eugenia arctostaphyloides var. ovalis
• Eugenia punicifolia var. subalterna
• Emurtia punicifolia
• Eugenia pyramidalis
• Eugenia pyrroclada
• Eugenia rhombocarpa
• Eugenia romana
• Eugenia romana var. pickeli
• Eugenia rufoflavescens

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Myrtales and placed in the family Myrtaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Eugenia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Eugenia puniciifolia, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the Caribbean and northern reaches of the South American continent. Within the Caribbean region, its presence is documented in Cuba as well as the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Moving into Northern South America, the species can be found spanning several distinct territories. Specifically, it inhabits the lush landscapes of French Guiana and Guyana. Finally, its geographical range extends further through the country of Suriname.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eugenia puniciifolia is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1550 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to the environmental conditions of the "Bosque alto" habitat, where it thrives within these high-altitude forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

1550 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque alto

Life history

The life history of Eugenia puniciifolia is characterized by its long-term survival strategy as a perennial organism, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival mechanisms, the species exhibits a dual classification of life forms; it functions primarily as a phanerophyte, maintaining its reproductive buds and stems well above the ground level, while also possessing traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, where certain parts of its architecture remain relatively low to the substrate. This combination of life forms allows the plant to navigate its environment with structural resilience throughout its extended lifecycle.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eugenia puniciifolia is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte or a parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant is self-supporting in its structure, lacking any climbing, vine, or liana characteristics. It reaches a maximum plant height of approximately 4 meters, supported by its robust, woody stems.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eugenia puniciifolia is fundamentally characterized by its use of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic process where the first stable product of carbon fixation is a three-carbon molecule. This pathway involves the enzyme Rubisco facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate within the mesophyll cells, driving the production of sugars necessary for the plant's growth and energy requirements. As a C3 plant, its physiological efficiency is highly dependent on environmental variables such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, as it lacks the specialized adaptations found in C4 or CAM species to minimize photorespiration under extreme heat or drought. The carbon assimilation process in Eugenia puniciifolia is integrated with complex transpiration mechanisms, where stomatal conductance regulates the balance between CO2 uptake for photosynthesis and the prevention of excessive water loss, maintaining the plant's internal water potential and metabolic equilibrium.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eugenia puniciifolia is characterized by the production of fleshy fruits, which facilitates a zoochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on animals for the movement of its seeds. The seeds produced by this species exhibit specific morphological properties, with a consistent seed volume measured at 110 mm³, representing both the minimum and maximum values as well as the mean volume. In terms of mass, the seeds show a degree of variability, ranging from a minimum of 0.04 g to a maximum of 0.2 g, with an average seed mass of 0.12 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Seed mass max:

0.2 g

Seed mass mean:

0.12 g

Seed mass min:

0.04 g

Seed volume max:

110 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Eugenia punicifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Eugenia punicifolia has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, Gallic acid, myricetin, quercetin, Epigallocatechin.

CATECHIN

1. ACS omega
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gallic acid

1. ACS omega
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

myricetin

1. ACS omega
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. ACS omega
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Epigallocatechin

1. ACS omega

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Eugenia punicifolia has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiglycation, Antinociceptive, Antioxidant, Antiviral, Gastroprotective.

Antiglycation

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antinociceptive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Gastroprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Eugenia punicifolia has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, pain, type 2 diabetes.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations