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Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & Perry

Family Name:	Myrtaceae
Synonyms:	Acca malaccensis, Eugenia domestica, Eugenia malaccensis
Common Name:	Malay Apple, Pomerac, Jambu Bol, Jambu Merah

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	5 m to 20 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	0 to 0

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malaysia, Indonesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Riverine)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Growth Form: Small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a wide, ovoid crown. Habitat: Occurs in moist tropical lowlands at altitudes of 0 - 1200 m. Trunk: Straight trunk is usually low branching (0.2 - 0.45 m wide). Foliage: Opposite leaves are oblong to elliptic with entire leaf margin (15 - 38 cm long, 7 - 20 cm wide). Flowers: Reddish pink, pom-pom shaped flowers (5 - 7 cm wide) are arranged in clusters of 1 - 12 on branches that have shed their leaves. Fruits: Fleshy, ellipsoid fruits known as berries (5 - 8 cm wide) are typically dark red with white or pink streaks, but can also be whitish or yellowish. Each fruit contains 1 round, brown seed (2.5 - 3.5 cm wide). Mature fruits form within 2 months of blooming. Landscaping: This species is grown as a fruit tree in home gardens. It is often planted near streams and ponds, because it requires a consistent supply of water. Cultivation: This species grows best in heavy soils that are well-draining but moist. Trees should be spaced 6 - 8 m apart. Feed with a compound fertilizer after harvesting the fruits. Propagation: Propagate by seed, budding, air layering, grafting and stem cuttings. Propagation by seed is often used. Etymology: The genus name "Syzygium" is derived from the Greek word "suzugos" which means joined. Syzygium used to be the name of a Jamaican plant species with paired leaves and branches.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit & Vegetable) Others: Food: The fruits are consumed raw or cooked. They are sometimes mixed with other fruits and stewed. Although this species is grown in home gardens for its fruits, it is not grown in commercial orchards. Other: Its hard, reddish wood is sometimes used as timber.

Others - Plant Morphology

Growth Form: Small to medium-sized, evergreen tree with a wide, ovoid crown. Habitat: Occurs in moist tropical lowlands at altitudes of 0 - 1200 m. Trunk: Straight trunk is usually low branching (0.2 - 0.45 m wide). Foliage: Opposite leaves are oblong to elliptic with entire leaf margin (15 - 38 cm long, 7 - 20 cm wide). Flowers: Reddish pink, pom-pom shaped flowers (5 - 7 cm wide) are arranged in clusters of 1 - 12 on branches that have shed their leaves. Fruits: Fleshy, ellipsoid fruits known as berries (5 - 8 cm wide) are typically dark red with white or pink streaks, but can also be whitish or yellowish. Each fruit contains 1 round, brown seed (2.5 - 3.5 cm wide). Mature fruits form within 2 months of blooming. Landscaping: This species is grown as a fruit tree in home gardens. It is often planted near streams and ponds, because it requires a consistent supply of water. Cultivation: This species grows best in heavy soils that are well-draining but moist. Trees should be spaced 6 - 8 m apart. Feed with a compound fertilizer after harvesting the fruits. Propagation: Propagate by seed, budding, air layering, grafting and stem cuttings. Propagation by seed is often used. Etymology: The genus name "Syzygium" is derived from the Greek word "suzugos" which means joined. Syzygium used to be the name of a Jamaican plant species with paired leaves and branches.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits
Food (Fruit & Vegetable)
Others: Food: The fruits are consumed raw or cooked. They are sometimes mixed with other fruits and stewed. Although this species is grown in home gardens for its fruits, it is not grown in commercial orchards. Other: Its hard, reddish wood is sometimes used as timber.

Landscaping Features

Thematic Landscaping	Economic Garden

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting, Grafting, Air-Layering
Planting Distance	6 m to 8 m

Foliar

Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Thick
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Red

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Acute
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ), Macrophyll ( 182.25cm2 - 1640.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Pink
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Flower Size - Remarks	5 - 7 cm wide
Flowering Period	Hot & Dry Period

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Berry

Image Repository

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Master ID	1870
Species ID	3163
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.