Myrciaria cambuca facts for kids

The Myrciaria cambuca, often called cambucá, is a type of plant. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which includes many well-known fruit trees like guavas and eucalyptus. This plant was first officially described in 2019. Before that, people sometimes confused it with another plant called Myrciaria ferruginea. The cambucá is a small shrub that grows tasty reddish fruits.

What is the Cambucá?

The cambucá is a small shrub that can grow up to 3 meters (about 10 feet) tall. Its leaves grow opposite each other on the stem. They are usually between 1.1 and 3.5 centimeters (0.4 to 1.4 inches) long and 0.6 to 1.5 centimeters (0.2 to 0.6 inches) wide.

The plant produces round, reddish fruits that can be up to 15 millimeters (about 0.6 inches) across. Each fruit usually contains one or two seeds inside. These fruits are known for their unique flavor.

Where Does it Grow?

The Myrciaria cambuca is a plant that is endemic to a specific part of the world. This means it only grows naturally in one area. For the cambucá, that area is the atlantic coastal forest in eastern Brazil. You can find it growing in the lower parts of the forest, under the taller trees, from the state of Paraíba all the way down to Espírito Santo.

Protecting the Cambucá

Experts have suggested that the Myrciaria cambuca is an endangered plant. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. There are a few main reasons why this plant is in danger:

• Farming: As more land is used for farms, the natural forest where the cambucá grows is cut down.
• Urbanization: Cities and towns are growing, which also leads to the destruction of its habitat.
• Alien Species: Sometimes, plants or animals from other parts of the world are introduced into the cambucá's habitat. These "alien species" can take over, making it hard for the native plants like the cambucá to survive.

Protecting the Atlantic coastal forest is very important to help the cambucá and many other unique plants and animals survive.