Syzygium suborbiculare
(Benth.) T. Hartley & Perry
Lady apple, Red bush apple
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Summary
Source: WikipediaSyzygium suborbiculare, the red bush apple or lady apple, is a shrub or small understorey tree native to northern Australia and New Guinea.
Description
A tree. It grows 8-12 m tall. It has an upright form and a rounded crown. The bark is slightly rough, tightly attached and is grey-brown. The leaves are oval to roundish, opposite and smooth. They are 7-19 cm long by 4-13 cm wide. They are glossy and dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. They have a short pointed tip. The flowers are large. They have numerous stamens. The flowers are 3-5 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide and carried in dense clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit can occur either singly or in bunches. The fruit is round but flattened and fleshy. It is 3-7 cm long by 3.5-9 cm wide. It has distinct ribs and is red when ripe. The flesh around the seed is 1 cm thick. It is crunchy and bluish-pink in colour. It is edible. There is one large seed inside. The seed is about 3.5-5 cm across. It looks like a large apricot stone.
Edible Uses
The ripe fruit is eaten raw and can be used in cooking, sauces, and relishes. The fruit is high in vitamin C.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They can be used in cooking or for sauces and relishes.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The fruit is eaten raw by Aboriginal people. The tree is also used as firewood and as a nectar source for bees. The fruit has been regarded among the Aboriginal people as being particularly medicinally effective against respiratory problems. The juice extracted from the boiled or roasted fruit has been used to clear chest congestion or as a cough remedy; the fire-heated leaves were used to heal wounds; the pulp of a cooked fruit has been used to treat a sore ear; chewed fruit or seeds have been used as a remedy against toothache or mouth sores.
Distribution
It is a tropical tree. It occurs as an understorey tree to open forest. It also grows in rainforest. It occurs on well drained soils and sandy soils. It can tolerate fire because it produces a lignotuber under the ground. It can re-grow from this tuber. During drought it can lose most of its leaves. It tolerates salty winds.
Where It Grows
Asia, Australia*, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Torres Strait,
Cultivation
It can be grown from fresh seed. Branches are low making harvesting easy. Fruit should be harvested when ripe before fruit fall.
Propagation
Seed - it has a short viability and needs to be sown when fresh. It germinates well and grows quickly.
Other Uses
Of no commercial value as a timber, the wood can be used as fuel. The tree can provide shade and shelter.
Production
Seedling growth can be rapid. Flowering occurs July to October in Australia and fruiting is October to February. It can produce fruit during any month but tends to fruit during the wet season. The quality of the fruit varies between trees.
Other Information
A popular food in northern Australia.
Notes
It has medicinal uses. The fruit is high in Vit C.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 89.3 | 146 | 35 | 0.6 | — | 8 | 1.2 | 0.2 |
Synonyms
Also Known As
E-sie, Ilara, Kaway, Narrani, Oloorgo, Pinyawini, Pudginjacker, Purringawuni, Wurringawuni, Yinumaninga
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