Syzygium trachyphloium
(C. T. White) B. Hyland
Rough-barked satinash
gbif· cc-by
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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GBIF
gbif· cc-by
Herbrecs
Description
A tree. It can grow to 35 m tall. The small branches are four angled. The leaves are simple, oval and 4-10 cm long with a drawn out tip. They are smooth and without hairs. There are 1 or 2 veins near the leaf edge. There can be several small oil dots. The leaves are shiny and light green above and paler underneath. The fruit is 1-1.4 cm long by 1-1.1 cm wide. They can occur singly or in bunches. They can be in the axils of leaves and at the ends of branches. There is one seed inside. It is 6 cmm across. The fruit are edible.
Edible Uses
We have no specific information on edibility for the fruit of this species, but the fruits of many members of this genus are edible. The red, globular fruit is about 10 - 14mm long and 10 - 11mm wide; the succulent flesh surrounding a solitary seed about 5 - 6mm in diameter.
Distribution
It is a tropical plant. It occurs in rainforest in north east Queensland in Australia. It grows between 350-1300 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Cultivation
Plants are grown from seed
Propagation
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.
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.
Synonyms
References (3)
- 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
- Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 351
