Red stopper
StarEugenia rhombea
Synonyms: Eugenia pusilana, Eugenia fiscalensis, Eugenia foetida var. rhombea, Eugenia leptopa
Western Herbalism Properties
Traditional Uses
The common name 'stopper' reflects this tree's medicinal reputation: early Florida settlers took a tea made from the leaves of the red stopper to stop diarrhoea (Florida Natural Areas Inventory field guide; Tomlinson, 'The Biology of Trees Native to Tropical Florida'). This astringent antidiarrhoeal use is shared with other Caribbean and Floridian Eugenia 'stoppers'.
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Botanical Description
Eugenia rhombea, the red stopper, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) native to southern Florida, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and northern Venezuela, where it grows in coastal hammocks and tropical dry forest; in Florida it is rare and listed as endangered, confined to the lower Everglades and Keys. The bark is smooth and light grey. The leaves are opposite, simple, leathery and dull green, 3 to 6 cm long, and aromatic when crushed, with the oil glands typical of the family. Small white flowers with numerous stamens are borne in the leaf axils, followed by rounded fleshy berries that ripen from orange to red or nearly black. It is a slow-growing component of subtropical and tropical coastal woodland.
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.
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