Mystery fruit tree in Santa Barbara, CA

[chiwoowa9]

Hello.  Please i.d. this Mystery Fruit tree.

This tree is approx 20-25' tall.  Willow-like in drooping branch habit.  10-12" diameter trunk very gray and fissured/rough bark.  Loads of 3" long by 2.5" diameter fruits.  Single pit very cherry-like, but large. Fruit edible but not all that tasty.  Skin smooth, golden yellow and fruit deteriorates quickly.  Some fruits look very quince-like on their ends, and not like any eugenia I've ever seen.  Photos online have led me to think this may be some variety of Eugenia. 

Lots of opinions here, but even the City Arborist was wrong in his i.d.  He said Plinia edulis and that can't be correct.  Please help.  Thank you.

[fyliu]

Welcome to the forum!

Nevermind, you fixed the photos
I'm not knowledgeable enough to tell what it is. Not pilina edulis, pretty sure.

[FlyingFoxFruits]

i thought it was definitely Eugenia pyriformis...but the bark looks unusual!

definitely a Eugenia!

definitely want seeds!  (I got DIBBZ!) 

[chiwoowa9]

Tell me where to mail the seeds and I will send you a few. 

[fyliu]

Looks cool. What does it taste like?

[Jack, Nipomo]

In the book called Santa Barbara Trees, by Will Beittel a similar tree is identified as Myrciaria edulis, syn. Eugenia edulis.  It was planted by Dr. Franceschi above Franceschi park, being about 25 ft tall with willow like apparance created by slender evergreen leaves and pendulous branches.  It has edible apricot-sized fruit.  Photo looks like the tree you cited.

[Jack, Nipomo]

How bad do you want seeds Adam?

[FlyingFoxFruits]

In the book called Santa Barbara Trees, by Will Beittel a similar tree is identified as Myrciaria edulis, syn. Eugenia edulis.  It was planted by Dr. Franceschi above Franceschi park, being about 25 ft tall with willow like apparance created by slender evergreen leaves and pendulous branches.  It has edible apricot-sized fruit.  Photo looks like the tree you cited.

that sounds like a better guess!

I'd love to get at least 20 seeds!

but I've already asked about 3 people in the area for seeds!!!  LOL...but yes, please, someone make it happen!

(here we have a tree that looks very similar..i think it used to be a synonym for E. edulis....it's called Eugenia myrcianthes....it looks just like this tree in CA, but the leaves are fuzzier, the branches are not weeping...and the fruits are more hollow, less juicy..and taste downright weird)

[FlyingFoxFruits]

btw...it is definitely not a myrciaria!

it is a eugenia!

(maybe it is another form of E. myrcianthes?  I can't find much info on the name E. eduils...maybe that name is antiquated? no longer used?)

[fruitlovers]

I'd say that is a hundred dollar tree. Does it really make hundred dollar bills? If so i want it! 
I saw this tree at Fullerton arboretum in southern California, where they have it labeled under old name: Hexachlamys edulis. The fruit is native to Argentina and there it is called Ubajay. I heard it is not so great, and has a funny smell? But i've never tried it. I have some growing but haven't fruited yet. I think this is a tree that Luc fruited and pulled out because he didn't like the fruit? How does your fruit taste chiwoowa9? Do you like them?
Adam, Eugenia edulis is either a synonym for Eugenia myrcianthes or Plinia edulis:
http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=eugenia+edulis

[FlyingFoxFruits]

so now we wait to hear some reports of the fruit quality?

still would take some seeds to plant...it looks much better than the ones we have here...(which most likely is the same species)

Oscar, as you already know i'm sure...

Hexachlamys edulis is a synonym for Eugenia myrcianthes.

and there have been threads about this already, where there seems to be at least two forms, one is superior to the other...I'm assuming this is it!

[Jack, Nipomo]

Could be an antiquated classification as Dr. Franceschi planted over 1000 different kinds of seeds from all over the world in 1895 in Santa Barbara.  Quite a guy!  OK Adam, you're covered....let me know otherwise as I am in Santa Barbara frequently (60 miles away).

[FlyingFoxFruits]

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=1396.msg18832#msg18832

another post with E. myrcianthes...more like the ones I've seen in FL

[FlyingFoxFruits]

here is the best thread I've found so far, from my buddy Miguel in Portugal

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=5839.msg78151#msg78151

[fruitlovers]

Could be an antiquated classification as Dr. Franceschi planted over 1000 different kinds of seeds from all over the world in 1895 in Santa Barbara.  Quite a guy!  OK Adam, you're covered....let me know otherwise as I am in Santa Barbara frequently (60 miles away).

Did Dr. Franceschi plant them in one area, or are they spread all over Santa Barbara?

[ScottR]

So,, this tree is Eugenia myricanthes? leaves look thinner that the tree (bush) I have but sure hope when mine fruits it taste like the one Miguel, has 

[fruitlovers]

here is the best thread I've found so far, from my buddy Miguel in Portugal

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=5839.msg78151#msg78151

Thanks Adam for references to the old threads. It was nice to read Miguel's old post with good descriptions and photos. The tree i saw in Fullerton had small and slender leaves, more like the one in question from Santa Barbara. This is the type that Miguel says has the strong garlic like smell. I'm glad to hear some other types exist with better taste. Gives me more reason to plant some in the ground. BTW mine came from different source than others mentioned, so maybe will turn out different?

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Oscar,

i'm not sure if this tree in Ca is the garlicky type!  based on some of the descriptions i've read from those who've tasted it, it sounds like a decent fruit...but the aroma isn't something that Americans will typically take a liking to immediately.

I'd like to plant it just to see how it performs here...being that it seems tolerant of wet feet, and low temps...and it fruits up a storm!  and it's a beautiful tree!

[chiwoowa9]

This is not a fruit I would recommend, and I consider myself a fruit-aholic.  I love trying new fruits.  This particular one is juicy and only a little bit sweet. I would call it bland.  It really has no allure at all, in its taste. The texture reminded me of biting into a cantaloupe melon. After sampling two different fruits off this tree, taking a small bite from each one, I had no desire whatsoever to finish eating either one.  Just not all that much in the way of taste and even reminded me a bit of how one's taste buds react to eating certain types of mushrooms:  the kind of mushrooms deemed edible, but not ones you'd really want on your plate.  I use the mushroom comparison because I think this fruit is actually kind of off-putting to the palate. Hard to describe, but almost like it isn't really edible, if that makes sense.

After reading all the replies to my post and looking online at many images,  I am certain this is not E. myrcianthes.  Perhaps it is some antiquated classification.

I am more than happy to mail seeds to anyone who wants them.  You pay the postage and I will make sure you get the seeds.

[fruitlovers]

Oscar,

i'm not sure if this tree in Ca is the garlicky type!  based on some of the descriptions i've read from those who've tasted it, it sounds like a decent fruit...but the aroma isn't something that Americans will typically take a liking to immediately.

I'd like to plant it just to see how it performs here...being that it seems tolerant of wet feet, and low temps...and it fruits up a storm!  and it's a beautiful tree!

Sounds like she didn't like it at all: almost inedible.    I think the one in Fullerton arboretum is of the same type, judging from small narrow leaves. Maybe you can make magic with it with your old miracle fruit trick? 

[FlyingFoxFruits]

Thanks for the info!

I swore I read on the original thread on edhat.com, that someone said it was sweet and delicious?

Read the link so u can see I'm not hallucinating
http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=154202

"Can anyone help us ID this interesting fruit? The large tree, currently surrounded by abundant dropped fruit, is on the corner of APS and Moreno. The fruit is not a kumquat, loquat or quince. Skin slightly fuzzy and tart, with same mouthfeel as a plum or nectarine. Fruit is fragrant and sweet, reminiscent of lychee/pear/nectarine? One or two medium sized stones/seeds. Irregular, ovoid fruit."

Oh well, it sounded nice at first, but now you talked me out of it!

Thanks for being honest

Lol

I still think it's most likely E. myrcianthes...

[fruitlovers]

100% certain it is a eugenia. 95% certain it is Eugenia myrcianthes. Go to the Fullerton arboretum, they have the same exact tree. You can match it up there. They have it labeled as Hexachlamys edulis, an old name of the same plant. I think at least 3 forum members have this plant: Luc, Miguel, Felipe, and maybe also Huertas? I wish they would chime in to confirm a positive ID.

[Miguel.pt]

Hello Oscar. did you call for me?

No doubt for me!... it is definitely one Ubajai (Eugenia myrcianthes or Hexaclamys edulis) of the narrow leaf type, like the one I have here in Portugal... have you seen that even the fruit season match with mine... my pics of the fruits were also from beginning of June.

I love those fruits and they taste like the acid Uvaias to me, but definitely is a fruit that some will dislike.

I'm still waiting for fruits on the large/blueish leaf Ubajai type so not sure if I will like those fruits too???... But I definitely eat all the fruits from this narrow leaf type straight from the tree... and I remember one article from Uruguay where they teach how to prepare a desert or marmalade with these fruits.
.
I'm still convinced that there are at least two different types of Ubajai... and this narrow leaf one should be the best for fruits... great find!

[Miguel.pt]

Just found the article from Uruguay (in Spanish)

www.guayubira.org.uy/monte/Ubajai.pdf

[fruitlovers]

Hello Oscar. did you call for me?

No doubt for me!... it is definitely one Ubajai (Eugenia myrcianthes or Hexaclamys edulis) of the narrow leaf type, like the one I have here in Portugal... have you seen that even the fruit season match with mine... my pics of the fruits were also from beginning of June.

I love those fruits and they taste like the acid Uvaias to me, but definitely is a fruit that some will dislike.

I'm still waiting for fruits on the large/blueish leaf Ubajai type so not sure if I will like those fruits too???... But I definitely eat all the fruits from this narrow leaf type straight from the tree... and I remember one article from Uruguay where they teach how to prepare a desert or marmalade with these fruits.
.
I'm still convinced that there are at least two different types of Ubajai... and this narrow leaf one should be the best for fruits... great find!

HAHA, glad you got my telepathic phone call. Thanks for giving positive ID. Now i have to go out and dig some holes and get those potted ubajais in the ground!