Syzygium oleosum

Syzygium oleosum, common names include blue lilly pilly, Scented satinash, and blue cherry. It is a species of Syzygium tree native to the eastern Australian rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests.

Description

An evergreen shrub or tree. It can grow up to 12 m tall but is usually a shrub 5-6 m high and 3-5 m across. The stem is erect and branching. The bark is grey and smooth. It has a widely spreading crown. Lower branches can touch the ground. The young leaf growth is bronze coloured. The leaves are simple and oval and 3-11 cm long by 3.5 cm wide and taper to a point. They are dark green and shiny on the upper surface and paler green underneath. The leaves have a lemon smell when crushed. The flowers are white and fluffy. They occur in clusters in the angles of the upper leaves but never at the ends of the branches. The fruit are round and change from bright red to shiny blue when ripe. The fruit are about 1.5-2.5 cm across. They have a distinct cavity at the tip. The fruit have one seed inside. The seed is 0.5-0.9 cm across. The fruit are edible. The seed often rattles inside when the fruit is ripe.

Edible Uses

The blue fruit can be eaten freshly picked from the tree or cooked. It has a pleasantly crisp texture and is mildly aromatic and sweet. The fruit can also be made into jams, jellies and wine. It is also grown as an ornamental plant.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They also make good jams and jellies.

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 needs well-drained soil. It occurs in Queensland and New South Wales in Australia in warm temperate rainforest. It can occur as a shrubby bush near the sea, or in pasture. It can stand light frosts. In Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. It prefers light to medium soils. They need to be well drained and with good organic matter. A protected partly shaded position is needed. It is drought and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are easily grown. They are grown from fresh seeds or cuttings. Cuttings strike fairly easily. Plants adapt to a range of soils and climates.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe - the whole fruit can be sown if required. Germination takes 4 - 9 weeks. Cuttings of firm, current season's growth. They usually root easily.

Other Uses

The wood is seldom large enough to be utilized.

Production

Flowerings occurs in November to February and fruit are ripe March to October.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Oily Satinash, Scented satinash

References (26)

• Anon., 2003, Native Plants for the Fitzroy basin. Society for Growing Australian Plants Inc. (Rockhampton Branch) p 76
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 963 (As Syzygium coolminianum)
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 197
• Cooper W & Cooper W T, 1994, Fruits of the Rain Forest. RD Press p 276
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 365

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