5578.000 Eugenia L.

Suffrutex (in ours), trees or shrubs. Flowers axillary, usually solitary (in ours). Bracteoles conspicuous and persistent at the base of the receptacle. Fl. buds subspherical. Receptacle not gradually narrowed into a pedicel-like base above the articulation, not prolonged beyond summit of ovary as an "upper receptacle". Calyx of 4-5 well-developed free sepals. Petals 4-5, free, persistent. Filaments and style scarcely longer than the petals. Cotyledons partly or completely fused. Ovary 2-locular. Fruit a berry.

Derivation of name: after Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), patron of botany.

Worldwide: c. 550 species, tropics, mostly American.

Malawi: 1 cultivated taxon.