Myrcia guianensis
Myrcia guianensis
Synonyms: Myrcia stemmeriana, Aulomyrcia glandulosa, Myrcia pallens var. subcordata, Myrcia torta f. glauca, Aulomyrcia gardneriana var. caerulescens, Eugenia guianensis, Aulomyrcia plumbea, Aulomyrcia obtusa, Aulomyrcia mansoni, Myrcia angustifolia, Aulomyrcia alternifolia, Aulomyrcia biformis, Myrcia crassicaulis, Aulomyrcia rotundifolia, Aulomyrcia pallens var. ovata, Aguava guianensis, Aulomyrcia crassicaulis, Calyptromyrcia spixiana, Myrcia didrichseniana, Myrcia roraimae, Myrcia daphnoides, Aulomyrcia elaeodendra, Aulomyrcia lingua var. rufa, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. tenuifolia, Aulomyrcia cassinioides var. glabrata, Aulomyrcia pallens, Aulomyrcia angustifolia, Aulomyrcia regeliana var. oppositifolia, Aulomyrcia buxizans, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. schomburgkiana, Myrcia mansoni, Aulomyrcia bracteata, Myrcia elegans, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. longipes, Myrcia lingua var. rufa, Calyptromyrcia elegans, Aulomyrcia decrescens, Myrcia cuneata, Myrcia lauriflora, Myrcia leucadendron, Myrcia fastigiata, Myrcia glandulosa var. obovata, Myrcia obtusa, Myrcia camapuana, Aulomyrcia gardneriana var. virescens, Aulomyrcia vacciniifolia, Myrcia pallens, Aulomyrcia obtecta, Myrcia rotundifolia, Myrcia arimensis, Myrcia queimadensis, Myrcia renatoana, Aulomyrcia buxifolia var. elliptica, Aulomyrcia cassinioides, Myrcia androsaemoides, Myrcianthes elegans, Myrcia yungasensis, Aulomyrcia cuneata, Aulomyrcia roraimensis, Myrcia lehmannii, Aulomyrcia exsucca, Myrcia paracatuensis, Myrcia cymosopaniculata, Aulomyrcia uaupensis, Aulomyrcia glandulosa var. elliptica, Myrcia terebinthacea, Myrtus exsucca, Myrcia cassinioides, Aulomyrcia suffruticosa, Myrcia surinamensis, Aulomyrcia schomburgkiana, Aulomyrcia cassinioides var. velutina, Myrcia diaphanosticta, Aulomyrcia botrys, Aulomyrcia lingua, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. panicularis, Myrcia roraimensis, Myrcia schrankiana, Aulomyrcia gardneriana, Aulomyrcia androsaemoides, Aulomyrcia obscura var. longipes, Myrcia plumbea, Myrcia obscura var. longipes, Myrcia taubatensis var. ovalis, Aulomyrcia pallens var. subcordata, Myrcia fastigiata var. coriacea, Myrcia androsaemoides var. parvifolia, Myrcia glandulosa, Aulomyrcia nigropunctata, Aulomyrcia maritima, Aulomyrcia regeliana, Aulomyrcia obscura, Aulomyrcia microcarpa, Aulomyrcia roraimae, Aulomyrcia buxifolia var. ovalis, Myrcia obtecta var. alternifolia, Myrcia myoporina, Aulomyrcia bimarginata, Myrcia daphnoides var. nervosa, Aulomyrcia surinamensis, Myrcia microcarpa, Aulomyrcia hepatica, Aulomyrcia scrobiculata, Myrcia alternifolia, Myrcia obtecta, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. pauciflora, Aulomyrcia glandulosa var. longifolia, Myrtus pyrifolia, Myrcia hepatica, Myrcia vacciniifolia, Aulomyrcia pruinosa, Myrcia adpressepilosa, Aulomyrcia leucadendron, Myrcianthes terminalis, Myrcia incisa, Aulomyrcia poeppigiana, Myrtus guianensis, Aulomyrcia regeliana var. sparsifolia, Myrcia elaeodendra, Aulomyrcia clausseniana, Aulomyrcia desertorum, Aulomyrcia velhensis, Aulomyrcia fragilis, Myrcia obscura, Myrcia scrobiculata, Myrcia pallens var. ovalis, Myrcia pusilla, Aulomyrcia dichroma, Myrcia velhensis, Aulomyrcia lauriflora, Myrcianthes spixiana, Aulomyrcia pusilla, Myrcia suaveolens, Myrcia rhabdoides, Aulomyrcia pallens var. ovalis, Myrcia lingua, Aulomyrcia schrankiana, Myrcia spixiana, Myrcia poeppigiana, Aulomyrcia jequitinhonhensis var. glauca, Aulomyrcia emarginata, Aulomyrcia glandulosa var. obovata, Aulomyrcia lingua var. glabrata, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. surinamensis, Myrcia hiemalis, Myrcia nigropunctata, Myrcia guianensis var. cuneata, Aulomyrcia obtusa var. grandifolia, Myrcia botrys, Aulomyrcia conduplicata, Aulomyrcia suaveolens, Myrcia decrescens, Myrcia exsucca, Myrcia desertorum, Aulomyrcia daphnoides, Myrcia myrtillifolia, Myrcia retusa, Myrcia torta, Eugenia dussii, Eugenia cotinifolia
Botanical Description
Myrcia guianensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), widespread across South America from the Guianas through Brazil to Paraguay and Bolivia. It typically reaches 2–6 m in height with smooth to flaky bark and slender, ascending branches. The opposite leaves are simple, leathery, elliptic to lanceolate, 3–8 cm long, glossy dark green above and paler below, with pellucid oil glands visible when held to the light — a hallmark of the family. Small white flowers are borne in axillary or terminal panicles and develop into globose, dark purple to black berries about 5–8 mm in diameter. The species is a characteristic component of the Brazilian cerrado and Atlantic forest understory, and its tissues are known to produce gallic and protocatechuic acids that contribute to documented allelopathic effects.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
In Brazilian folk medicine the leaves of Myrcia guianensis (pedra-ume-caá, 'insulina-vegetal') are prepared as a decoction or infusion and taken for diabetes-related complaints, diarrhoea and hypertension, a use shared with several related Myrcia species (Lorenzi & Matos, 2008).
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.