Syzygium samarangense - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Taxonomy:

Syzygium samarangense (Myrtaceae)

Alternative Botanical Name:
Eugenia javanica

Common Names:
Java Apple
Jambu
Wax Apple
Wax Jambu
Water Apple
Samarang Rose Apple

Classification:

Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & Perry
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida-Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae - Myrtle family
Genus: Syzygium P. Br. ex Gaertn. - Syzygium
Species: Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & Perry - Syzygium
(National Plant Database. 2005.)
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Description:

The tree grows 16 to 50 ft (5-15 m) tall and has a short trunk with thick and open, widespreading crown and pinkish-gray, flaking bark.

The opposite leaves are very aromatic when crushed, nearly sessile, elliptic-oblong, rounded or slightly cordate at the base, yellowish to dark bluish-green in color. Flowers, borne in drooping panicles of 3 to 30 at the branch tips or in smaller clusters in the axils of fallen leaves, are fragrant, yellowish-white with 4 petales and numerous stamens. The waxy fruit, usually light-red, sometimes greenish-white or cream-colored, is pear-shaped, narrow at the base, very broad, flattened and adorned with 4 fleshy calyx lobes at the apex. The skin is very thin, the flesh is white, spongy, dry to juicy, subacid and very bland in flavor. There may be 1 or 2 somewhat rounded seeds or no seeds at all.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Geographic Distribution:

Java Apple tree is indigenous from Malaya to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands where there are wild trees in the coastal forests. It has been introduced in many Asian and Indian countries.

(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Food Uses:

The pink fruits are juicier and more flavorful and suitable for eating out-of-hand. In Malaya, the greenish fruits are eaten raw with salt or may be cooked as a sauce. They are also stewed with true apples.

(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

Medicinal Uses:**

The flowers are astringent and used in Taiwan to treat fever and halt diarrhea. Investigators have found the flowers principal constituent to be tannin.

In scientific research the flowers have shown weak antibiotic action against Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Candida albicans.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

** The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.

Indigenous Practices:

The red, hard wood is used for constructing huts in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(Morton, J. 1987. Fruits of Warm Climates.)

(Information for this species compiled and recorded by Camelia Cirnaru, NTBG Consultant.)

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