Syzygium luehmannii

Syzygium luehmannii is a medium-sized coastal rainforest tree native to Australia. Common names include riberry, small leaved lilly pilly, cherry satinash, cherry alder, or clove lilli pilli. The habitat is Australian riverine, littoral, subtropical or tropical rainforest. It grows on volcanic soils or deep sandy soils between the Macleay River in New South Wales to near Cairns in tropical Queensland. It is commonly grown as an ornamental tree and for its fruit, known as a riberry.

Description

A tree. It grows up to 15-35 m tall and with a spread of 6 m. They grow as smaller trees when grown out of the rainforest. It has a dense crown of leaves. The stem is erect and often it has buttresses. The bark is flaky and greyish-brown. The new growth is bright red. The leaves are stiff. They are 6 cm long by 3 cm across. The leaves taper towards the tip. They are shiny green on both surfaces but the upper surface is darker green. The flowers are small and white. They occur in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit are pinkish red to purple and pear shaped. They are about 1 cm across and 2 cm long. There is one seed in the fruit but often the fruit are seedless. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A distinctive, clove-like flavour. Although sometimes eaten raw, the fruit is more commonly cooked, being used to make jams, jellies, sauces, marmalade etc. The red, pear-shaped fruit is 9 - 12mm long, 6 - 10mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also made into jams, jellies, sauces, vinegar and marmalade.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in warm temperate regions but can grow in the tropics and subtropics. It grows in north eastern Australia in New South Wales and Queensland. It is a rainforest species. Trees will grow in cooler places and can tolerate sunlight even when young. They need well drained soil. They can grow on a variety of soils but do best on light well composted soils. They need plenty of moisture to grow well but can survive a drought. Plants are frost tender but can stand light frosts. In Papua New Guinea it has been seen at 1,600 m above sea level. Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 9-12. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Papua New Guinea, PNG,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from fresh seed. Often many fruit do not have seeds. Seeds do not always germinate well. Cuttings are difficult to get to grow. Tip cuttings are best.

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it germinates in 3 - 4 weeks. Cuttings are fairly easy to root.

Other Uses

A useful general purpose structural timber. We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but the various species of Syzygium tend to have somewhat similar timber. The general description of syzygium timber is as follows:- The heartwood is a golden brown, greyish brown or brown, with pink or purplish glints; it is not clearly demarcated from the 1 - 4cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain slightly interlocked, sometimes wavy or irregular; there are resin deposits. The wood is heavy; moderately hard; somewhat durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and termites, but susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools, nailing and screwing are good so long as the wood is pre-bored; gluing is correct. The wood is used for musical instruments, tool handles, furniture components, ship building, heavy carpentry, flooring, joinery etc. The plant is ornamental, has dense foliage and responds well to clipping. It can be grown as an ornamental, fruit-bearing hedge.

Production

Trees grow moderately quickly. The flowers occur October to December and the fruit are ripe November to March.

Notes

They are rich in folates.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Clove lilly pilly, Riberry, Small-leaf Lilly-Pilly, Small-leaved Water Gum

References (34)

• Alice, L. & O'Quinn, T., Australian Bush Superfoods. Explore Australia p 130
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 392
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 964
• Bonney, N., 1997, Economic Native Trees and Shrubs for South Australia. Greening Australia (SA) inc. Campbelltown SA 5074 p 169
• Bonney, N., 2012, Edible Wild Native Plants for Southern Australia. p 78

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