Syzygium branderhorstii

Syzygium branderhorstii, commonly known as the Lockerbie satinash, is a small tree in the family Myrtaceae found in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands, and northern Queensland, Australia. It is cauliflorous, producing large inflorescences from the trunk. The fruits are eaten by brush turkeys (Alectura lathami).

Description

A tree that grows up to 10 m tall. It has a rounded dense crown of leaves. The small branches are round in cross section. The leaves are oblong and thick. They are 14-18 cm long by 6-9 cm wide. They are dark green on the upper surface and paler underneath. The flowers are small and cream to red coloured. They occur in large numbers in clusters on the trunk and larger branches. The fruit is oval and about 4 cm across. It may vary between white to dark purple. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A succulent flesh. The white to dark purple fruits are variable in shape, about 30-50mm long and 20 - 40mm wide.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It occurs in northern Queensland and in Papua New Guinea. It occurs in the lowland rainforest. It grows up to 100 m above sea level. It grows in drier, more seasonal rainforest.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia*, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Torres Strait,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. Plants need protection when young. They need plenty of watering.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.

Other Uses

The wood of this species has no commercial value in Australia, and little is known about its qualities. It grows larger in New Guinea, where it is sometimes harvested and makes a useful 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.

Production

Plants grow less quickly in subtropical regions. Flowers are produced September to November and fruit are ripe December to March.

Other Information

It is also cultivated.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Uzu

References (9)

• Borrell, O.W., 1989, An Annotated Checklist of the Flora of Kairiru Island, New Guinea. Marcellin College, Victoria Australia. p 113
• Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 360
• Fell, D.G. & Stanton, D.J., 2015: The vegetation and flora of Mabuyag, Torres Strait, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Culture 8(1):1-33. Brisbane. ISSN 1440-4788
• Habitat Management Profile – Saibai Island. Appendix C. Preliminary List of Useful Plants for Saibai Island. p 117
• Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 76, 340

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