Syzygium tierneyanum

Syzygium tierneyanum, commonly known as river cherry, water cherry, or Bamaga satinash, is a tree in the family Myrtaceae which is native to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and north east Queensland. It often grows along watercourses where it is a facultative rheophyte.

Description

A small tree. It grows to 10-25 m tall. It has a spreading dense crown. The bark is flaky. The young shoots are coppery brown. The leaves are sword shaped and thin. They are smooth and without hairs. They are 9-18 cm long by 6 cm wide. They are dark glossy green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The flowers are fairly large. They are cream and borne in small clusters in the axils of the older leaves. The fruit are round and 2 cm across. They are usually pink or red but may be white. The fruit are edible. There is one seed inside. It is 5-8 mm across. The cut seed is red-purple.

Edible Uses

Fruit. Edible, but not very appealing. The red or white, globular fruit is about 20mm in diameter; the succulent flesh surrounding a solitary seed about 5 - 8mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical tree. It occurs in north east Queensland in Australia. It grows between sea level and 460 m altitude. Plants will grow in a range of soils. They need plenty of moisture. They occur in rainforests. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia*, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from fresh seed.

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, the germination is rapid and reliable.

Other Uses

The wood is a 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 tree is often planted along the sides of streams in order to stabilize the banks.

Production

In Australia the fruit are ripe in January and February.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Kaisungaga

References (19)

• Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 170
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 51
• Cooper W & Cooper W T, 1994, Fruits of the Rain Forest. RD Press p 278
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 369
• Doran, J.C., & Turnbull, J.W. (Eds), 1997, Australian Trees and Shrubs: species for land rehabilitation and farm plantings in the tropics. ACIAR Monograph No 24. p 358

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