Syzygium antisepticum

Syzygium antisepticum, or shore eugenia, is native to the floristic region of Malesia.

Description

A small tree. It grows 7 m high but can be 34 m tall. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are narrowly oval. They are 7-13 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. Young leaves can be pale red. The flowers are small and white. The fruit are oval and 6 mm long by 5 mm wide. They are white.

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 fruit is a whitish-red-violet, fleshy, globose berry about 5mm in diameter. Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The young leaves are eaten raw. They are sour. The ripe fruit are eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant is antiseptic and is used medicinally.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows near the coast and up to 1,800 m above sea level. It grows in forest and along river banks just behind the sand dunes.

Where It Grows

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seeds or by suckers or stem cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Other Uses

The tannin-yielding bark is used for toughening fishing nets and for colouring clothes reddish-brown or black. The wood is sometimes used for construction, but it is usually not considered of much value. The wood is used in the construction of houses, ships and bridges, and for furniture and implements. We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but it belongs to a group of timbers trees collectively known as 'kelat'. The general description of kelat 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.

Production

In NE Thailand ripe fruit are available April to May.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aeba, Gelam tikas, Jambi hutan, Kok samek, Maak mek, Met chun, Obah, Pakmak, Phak mek, Samed, Samet chun

References (17)

• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 984 (As Eugenia grata)
• Cruz-Garcia, G. S., & Price, L. L., 2011, Ethnobotanical investigation of 'wild' food plants used by rice farmers in Kalasin, Northeast Thailand. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 7:33 (As Syzygium gratum)
• Eiadthong, W., et al, 2010, Management of the Emerald Triangle Protected Forests Complex. Botanical Consultant Technical Report. p 51 (As Syzygium gratum)
• Jacquat, C., 1990, Plants from the Markets of Thailand. D.K. Book House p 67 (As Syzygium gratum)
• Japanese International Research Centre for Agricultural Science www.jircas.affrc.go.jp/project/value_addition/Vegetables (As Syzygium gratum)

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