Punchberry
Myrcia splendens
Synonyms: Myrcia sellowiana, Myrcia lindeniana, Myrcia formosiana, Myrcia polyantha, Myrcia guajavifolia var. perforata, Myrcia kegeliana, Myrcia hayneana, Myrcia sericea, Myrcia acuminata var. bullata, Myrcia elongata, Myrcia rostrata f. pseudomini, Myrcia reticulata, Myrcia gardneriana, Myrcia saxicola var. grandifolia, Myrcia melanoclada, Myrcia riedeliana, Myrcia magnoliifolia var. angustifolia, Myrcia acuminata var. genuina, Myrcia costata var. minensis, Myrcia oerstediana, Eugenia periplocifolia, Myrcia kegeliana var. angustifolia, Myrcia hayneana var. paraensis, Myrcia augustana, Myrcia aguitensis, Eugenia mollis, Myrcia kegeliana var. vulgaris, Myrcia berberis var. angustifolia, Myrcia mikaniana, Myrcia pohliana, Myrcia coroicensis, Myrcia elongata var. brunnea, Cumetea divaricata, Myrcia schuechiana, Myrcia acutiloba, Myrcia dictyoneura, Myrcia communis var. glabrata, Myrcia chilensis, Myrtus splendens, Myrcia phaeoclada, Myrcia berberis var. latifolia, Myrcia venezuelensis, Myrcia tingens, Myrcia ayresiana, Myrcia rostrata var. brunea, Myrcia laevigata var. brunnea, Myrcia guajavifolia var. bullata, Myrcia splendens var. obscura, Myrcia rostrata f. gracilis, Myrcia sepiaria, Myrcia friburgensis, Myrcia acuminata var. meridensis, Eugenia mikaniana, Myrcia riparia, Myrcia coumetoides, Myrcia magnoliifolia var. latifolia, Eugenia fallax, Myrcia erythroxylon, Myrcia micrantha, Myrcia nitens, Myrcia langsdorffii, Myrcia complicata, Myrcia plicatocostata, Myrcia costata, Myrtus deflexa, Myrcia opaca var. latifolia, Myrcia luetzelburgii, Myrtus complicata, Myrcia discolor, Myrcia imperatoris-maximiliani, Myrtus acuminata, Myrcia alagoensis var. oblongata, Myrcia phaeoclada var. guyanensis, Myrcia gracilis var. opaca, Myrtus polyantha, Myrcia kegeliana var. latifolia, Myrcia barrensis, Myrcia alagoensis var. intermedia, Myrcia humboldtiana var. caribaea, Myrcia sellowiana var. bullata, Myrcia splendens var. guantanamana, Myrcia elongata var. grandifolia, Myrcia acutata, Myrcia longicaudata, Eugenia paniculiflora, Myrcia fallax, Myrcia sororia, Myrcia klotzschiana, Myrcia velutina, Myrcia splendens var. robustior, Myrcia brandamii, Myrcia guajavifolia f. grandifolia, Myrcia splendens var. chrysocoma, Myrcia laevigata var. canescens, Myrcia erythroxylon var. caerulescens, Myrcia rostrata f. communis, Myrcia brachylopadia, Myrcia acuminata, Myrcia schippii, Myrcia acuminata var. peruviana, Myrcia sartoriana, Myrcia magnoliifolia var. parvifolia, Myrcia velutina var. ochracea, Myrcia sericiflora, Myrcia rostrata, Aulomyrcia costata, Myrcia martinicensis, Myrcia communis, Myrcia communis var. latifolia, Myrcia latifolia, Myrcia melanosticta, Myrcia costaricensis, Myrcia rostrata f. flexuosa, Myrcia gracilis var. prasina, Myrcia catharinae, Myrcia opaca, Myrcia kegeliana var. longifolia, Myrcia sellowiana var. costata, Myrcia humboldtiana var. orinocensis, Myrcia klotzschiana var. impellucida, Myrcia guajavifolia, Myrcia spruceana, Myrcia rufula var. martiana, Myrcia rufidula, Myrcia elongata var. ochracea, Myrcia linkiana, Myrcia laevigata, Myrtus bracteolaris, Myrcia mikaniana var. angustifolia, Myrcia kunthiana, Myrcia corcovadensis, Myrcia pseudomini, Myrcia bracteolaris, Myrcia humboldtiana, Myrcia guajavifolia var. impunctata, Myrcia splendens var. micropora, Myrcia gatunensis, Myrcia ciarensis, Myrcia lamprosericea, Myrcia rostrata f. sericiflora, Myrcia gracilis var. sessiliflora, Myrcia splendens var. genuina, Myrcia acuminata var. tovarensis, Aulomyrcia wullschlaegeliana, Myrcia negrensis, Myrcia velutina var. canescens, Myrcia phaeoclada var. alagoensis, Myrcia macrophylla, Myrcia costata var. bahiensis, Myrcia compressa, Myrcia pellucida, Myrcia impressa, Myrtus stoupii, Myrcia ypanemensis, Myrcia opaca var. angustifolia, Myrcia gracilis, Myrcia oocarpa, Myrcia kegeliana var. pendula, Myrcia alagoensis, Myrcia magnoliifolia, Myrcia saxicola, Myrcia belizensis, Myrcia alagoensis var. ovata, Myrcia superba, Myrcia mikaniana var. latifolia, Myrcia oxyoentophylla, Myrcia cucullata, Myrcia martiana, Myrcia rufula, Eugenia laxiflora, Eugenia divaricata, Myrcia berberis
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Myrcia splendens, the punchberry or guava-de-anta, is an evergreen shrub to small tree in the family Myrtaceae native to a broad swath of the Neotropics, occurring from southern Mexico through Central America, the Caribbean, and across much of tropical South America from Colombia and Venezuela to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Plants reach 4-15 m in height, with slender ascending branches and reddish-brown smooth to slightly flaking bark. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate to elliptic, 5-12 cm long and 2-5 cm wide, with entire margins, an acuminate tip, a glossy dark-green upper surface, and a paler lower surface dotted with translucent oil glands characteristic of the Myrtaceae; the foliage is aromatic when crushed. Young leaves and twigs are conspicuously coppery to reddish-pink, an attractive feature that has led to the species' use as an ornamental. The inflorescence is a profusely branched terminal or upper-axillary panicle 4-10 cm long, bearing many small fragrant white flowers 5-8 mm across, each with four or five white petals and numerous showy white stamens. Flowering occurs through much of the warm season. The fruit is a small globose to ellipsoid berry 5-10 mm across that ripens from green through red to deep purple-black, juicy, sweet, and edible.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
Myrcia splendens has documented use throughout its Neotropical range in mestizo and indigenous folk medicine. Leaf decoctions are widely employed for gastrointestinal complaints, including diarrhoea, dysentery, and stomach pain, valued for the astringent tannins and aromatic essential oils typical of the genus; bark and leaf preparations are also taken for diabetes and as carminative tisanes (Quattrocchi, 2012; Albuquerque et al., Brazilian ethnobotanical surveys). In Brazilian caatinga and Atlantic Forest folk medicine the leaves of Myrcia spp. (including M. splendens) are an important class of pedra hume kaa (hypoglycaemic plants) used for blood-sugar regulation. The leaves also have antimicrobial activity demonstrated in laboratory studies, supporting their traditional use against intestinal infections.
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.