Syzygium cumini

Syzygium cumini, also known as Malabar plum, Java plum, black plum, jamun, jaman, jambul, jambolan or Indian blackberry, is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae, and favored for its fruit, timber, and ornamental value. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It can reach heights of up to 30 m (100 ft) and can live more than 100 years. A rapidly growing plant, it is considered an invasive species in many world regions. Syzygium cumini has been introduced to areas including islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. The tree was introduced to Florida and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Its fruits are eaten by various native birds and small mammals, such as jackals, civets, and fruit bats.

Description

A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows 10-30 m tall. The stem is erect and branching. The leaves are opposite and smooth. They are shiny, leathery and somewhat oval shaped. The leaves are 4.5-16.5 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are pink or nearly white and occur on compound flower arrangements below the leaves. The fruit is oval with dark purple flesh and is green but develops a nearly black skin when ripe. Fruit can be 2.5 cm long or more. The pulp is purplish-white and juicy. They are fleshy and have a large greenish seed. The fruit is edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit is eaten raw or made into jams, sherbet, jellies, juice, tarts and puddings. It is juicy and almost odourless, with a pleasant, slightly bitter and astringent taste. The purple, olive-shaped fruit is somewhat astringent, though soaking it in salt water before cooking will remove this quality. Flavour is variable — at best pleasantly and mildly acidic. The oblong fruit measures about 20mm long by 18mm wide. A coffee-like beverage can be made from the dried, ground seeds.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. Rubbing it with salt is sometimes used for poorer fruit. Or they are soaked in salt water. Fruit are also used for vinegar (unripe fruit) and for wine (ripe fruit). They can be used for making jelly or jam. The young leaves are eaten.

Medicinal Uses

Both the seeds and fruit are diuretic and possess important carminative and astringent properties. The seeds also lower blood sugar levels and are useful in treating diabetes. Seeds and bark are well known in the Far East for treating dysentery and controlling hyperglycaemia and glycosuria in diabetic patients. The juice of the bark is considered beneficial for treating wounds and enlargement of the spleen. The bark is astringent, and an infusion is used to treat irregular menstruation, diarrhoea, dysentery and children's thrush. The bark is also used as a gargle to strengthen gums and treat mouth ulcers. Ripe fruit is astringent and used as an effective treatment for diabetes; it is also used to relieve colic and diarrhoea. A leaf infusion is used in the treatment of diabetes and diarrhoea. The wood yields a sulphate pulp with medicinal applications. The roots are sometimes used as a treatment for epilepsy.

Known Hazards

None reported.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. They are common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines, India and Indonesia. The plant prefers a well composted soil which is moist and well drained. It needs a protected position and prefers part shade. It is drought and frost tender. In valleys in the Himalayas trees grow up to 1300 m above sea level. In the tropics they grow to 2000 m altitude. Trees can tolerate some flooding. It requires a good rainfall or adequate watering. It can grow on alkaline soils, salty soils and marshy lands. Once established trees can stand strong winds. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Algeria, Amazon, Andamans, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Martinique, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Montserrat, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, NW India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia*, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

It is grown from fresh seed. Seeds normally germinate well within 2-3 weeks. Seed can only be stored for about a month. It can also be grown from tip cuttings. Trees can be cut back and will regrow or they can be heavily pruned into a hedge. It is best to select better quality fruit then grow them from cuttings or by air layering. For air layering, using growth substances is recommended. Budding can also be used. Seedlings vary in fruit quality. Almost seedless fruit can be selected. Seeds should be sown 4-5 cm deep and putting them in pots makes transplanting easiest. Some seeds produce several shoots or seedlings and the ones produced by cell tissue breed more true. Trees are planted 10 m apart. Budded trees are smaller and can be 8 m apart. Trees can be pruned to give one main stem and 4-5 main branches. Flowers are cross pollinated by honey bees so keeping bee hives in the orchard helps fruit sett.

Propagation

Freshly collected seeds are sown in nursery beds at a depth of 20–25mm during the rainy season, germinating in 2–4 weeks at a rate of 20–90%. Seedlings are pricked out at 6–9 months old into beds spaced 30 x 30cm. Moisture is more critical than shade for seedling development — seedlings in full sun grow well if the soil is kept moist, but shaded seedlings die if the soil dries out. Seedlings are somewhat frost tender, particularly on grassy ground where they are frequently killed back. Sapling growth is faster than seedling growth, and seedlings 1–3 years old can be planted out without difficulty. Air layering and grafting are also suitable propagation methods.

Other Uses

The bark contains 13–19% tannins and has been used in tanning and to produce a brown dye for colouring and preserving fishnets. The branches are used to whiten teeth. The plant can be trimmed to serve as a hedge or shelterbelt, and is often interplanted as a shade provider alongside crops such as bananas, coffee and cocoa. Its flowers are highly attractive to bees and yield a quality honey. The reddish-grey or reddish-brown, fine-grained heartwood is used in exterior joinery and carpentry. The wood is durable in water and resistant to termites; although difficult to work, it saws and machines well and is used for construction, boat building, tea chest and commercial plywood, agricultural implements, tool handles, cart wheels, well curbs and troughs, railway sleepers, furniture, mine shaft props and gallery supports, bridge building and musical instruments including guitars.

Production

It grows quickly after the first year. It can reach 12 m tall in 12 years. Trees start bearing fruit when 4-6 years old. Trees can last for 70 years. There is usually one main flowering period in the spring, but there can be minor times of flowering. Several months are taken between flowering and ripe fruit being ready. It is normally 120-150 days. The fruit does not ripen after being harvested so fruit need to be picked when ripe. Flower and fruit drop can be reduced with sprays of Giberellic acid. A tree can yield 60-70 kg of fruit.

Other Information

The fruit are sold in markets. The ripe fruit are eaten especially by children. It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aceituna dulce, Ameixa, Arugadam, Bak waa, Bor jam, Chambu, Dhanbu gas, Dieng-ramai, Dinkikudadaru, Djamoen, Duhat, Duwet, Gyayabo pesjua, Hai nan pu tao, Hmuizolong, Indian black cherry, Jaam, Jalao, Jam esing, Jam, Jaman, Jamblang, Jambolanier, Jambu, Jambu gesen, Jambul, Jambulao, Jamelao, Jamli, Jammu, Jamno, Jamo, Jamoa, Jamoon, Jamukoli, Jamun, Jamuna, Janboran, Jangmi, Jangmikethi, Jiwat, Juwan-juwan, Juwet, Kalajam, Kalojam, Kano, Kaujabaqei, Khorjam, Kolajam, Kola jamu, Koriang, Koth ja, Kottainagam, Kula jamu, Lenhmui, Len-hmui, Lomboy, Look hwa, Lunaboy, Lushanaku, Ma-ha, Madan, Maha-dan, Motlho, Msambarau, Mui chi, Mzambarau, Nava, Naval, Nava-mara annu, Neera, Neereedu, Neradi, Neradu, Nerale, Neredam, Neredu, Njaval, Okak, Paiman, Perinnaral, Pesjua extranjera, Phalenda, Phalinda, Phoberkung, Pohon duwet, Pohon jamblang, Pring ba'y, Robazaha, Rotra vazaha, Rotsy, Runi, Sa, Salam, Sa leng, Sambal, Sepuinusu, Shilongthi, Tallay, Tame, Thabye, Thabye-kyet-chi, Tha-pyay, Thei subor, Thei-vom, Va, Voi rung, Wa pasan, Wa pu, Waa, Zambalawe, Zambarau

References (178)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 48
• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Ali, A. M. S., 2005, Homegardens in Smallholder Farming Systems: Examples from Bangladesh. Human Ecology, Vol. 33, No. 2 pp. 245-270 (As Szyum Jambolium)
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 614
• Anderson, E. F., 1993, Plants and people of the Golden Triangle. Dioscorides Press. p 222

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