Syzygium jambos

Syzygium jambos is a species of rose apple originating in Southeast Asia and occurring widely elsewhere, having been introduced as an ornamental and fruit tree.

Description

An evergreen tree. It grows up to 7.5-15 m tall and with a spread of 4 m. It can be a small shrub. The stem is erect and 20-40 cm across. The branches hang downwards. The bark is greyish-green. The young twigs are either flattened of somewhat square in cross section. The leaves are simple, thick and shiny. The leaves are narrow and pointed (10-20 cm long and 3-4 cm wide). They taper towards both ends. Young leaves are brownish red coloured. The leaves have 16-18 pairs of side veins which join near the edge of the leaf. The leaf stalk is 1 cm long. The flowers are large (4-5 cm) and greenish-white and fluffy. They occur in clusters at the ends of branches. The fruit is rose scented and apple like. They are dull yellow and tinged pink. Fruit are 4 cm across. The fruit have a distinct crown at the end. They contain 1 or 2 large seeds. The seeds are pale brown. The fruit is edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit is usually eaten raw but can also be stewed or made into jams, jellies and confections. It has a sweet flavour with a crisp, crunchy texture, is somewhat to very juicy, and carries a delicate rose-water fragrance. When cooked with custards or puddings it imparts a rose-like flavour. The large hollow seed cavity can be used to stuff the fruit before baking. The fruit, which measures up to 4cm x 6cm, bruises easily after harvest and must be handled carefully to preserve its crispness. Around the tropics it is mostly eaten fresh, particularly by children, and is seldom marketed commercially. At home it is sometimes stewed with sugar and served as dessert. The fruit can be distilled to produce a rosewater said to equal the best obtained from rose petals. The flowers can be eaten candied.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are poor as a dessert fruit but because of the sweet rose smell are often crystallised and used in sweets. They can be used for jams and jellies. (It is good to mix with other fruits as rose apple helps the jam to set.) The flowers are candied.

Medicinal Uses

Several parts of the tree serve as a tonic or diuretic. In India, the fruit is regarded as a tonic for the brain and liver, and an infusion of the fruit acts as a diuretic. A sweetened preparation of the flowers is believed to reduce fever. The seeds are used against diarrhoea, dysentery and catarrh. In Nicaragua, an infusion of roasted, powdered seeds is claimed to benefit diabetics. In Colombia, the seeds are said to have anaesthetic properties. A leaf decoction is applied to sore eyes and also serves as a diuretic, expectorant and treatment for rheumatism. The juice of macerated leaves is taken as a febrifuge. Powdered leaves have been applied to the bodies of smallpox patients for their cooling effect. The bark contains 7–12.4% tannin and is astringent, emetic and cathartic; a decoction is used to relieve asthma, bronchitis and hoarseness. In Cuba, the root is regarded as an effective remedy for epilepsy.

Known Hazards

The seeds are said to be poisonous. An unknown amount of hydrocyanic acid has been reported in the roots, stems and leaves. An alkaloid, jambosine, has been found in the bark of the tree and of the roots, and the roots are considered poisonous.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It needs adequate moisture and suits the warm moist tropics. It can't stand waterlogging. It prefers a rich well composted soil but will do well on poorer soils. It does best in an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It is often along stream banks. It does well near the sea shore. Young plants need shade and moisture but established trees can tolerate harder conditions. It probably grows up to about 1200 metres above sea level in equatorial regions but near the altitudinal and latitudinal limits it produces no fruit. Trees can grow on a variety of soils. A pH between 5.5 and 7 is recommended. In Nepal it grows between 600-1400 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Andamans, Angola, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Easter island, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, FSM, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Mexico, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, North America, Northeastern India, Jamaica, Kenya, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rotuma, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia*, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed. Seeds germinate well and have no dormancy. Seeds often give rise to more than one seedling. These can be carefully separated when young. As fruit quality varies it is best to preserve better kinds of trees using vegetative propagation methods. Plants can be grafted or budded if needed. Cuttings root fairly easily in sand. Tip cuttings are suitable. Trees need to be 6-8 metres apart. It can be grown as a hedge.

Propagation

Seeds have very short viability and no dormancy, generally germinating well within 10–120 days if sown fresh. Surface sow in a shady position, firming gently into the soil, and water carefully to avoid washing the seed away. A single seed often gives rise to 3–8 seedlings, most of which are true to type. Young plants transplant poorly, so should be potted into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and before the roots have developed significantly. Young plants require some shade. Air layering is also a suitable propagation method.

Other Uses

Distillation of the leaves yields a yellow essential oil important in the perfume industry, containing among other compounds 26.84% dl-a-pinene and 23.84% l-limonene. The bark contains 7% tannin on a dry weight basis and is used locally for tanning and dyeing; it also yields a brown dye. The flexible branches split easily and are valued for making wattle, hoops for large sugar casks and woven baskets. The heartwood is dark red or brown and the sapwood white; the wood is straight and close-grained, medium-heavy to heavy and strong. It is not durable in the ground and is prone to attack by dry wood termites. Though usually too small for many purposes, it is used for fence posts, plant stakes and similar applications; larger pieces are made into furniture, wheel spokes, chair arms, boat knees, construction beams, frames for musical instruments such as violins and guitars, and packing cases. It is also popular for general turnery and makes an excellent fuel and charcoal. If severely pruned when young, plants become very dense and form an effective windbreak hedge. The dense root system is useful for stabilising soils on riverbanks, though the dense canopy can prevent understorey plant growth and lead to sheet erosion unless the crown is thinned. Bees produce a heavy, consistent flow of amber honey from the flowers.

Production

Trees grow slowly. They start bearing when 4-5 years old. Fruiting is normally seasonal but over a long season. In the northern hemisphere it flowers from April to May and fruit ripen July to August. A tree can produce 400 fruit is a season.

Other Information

Not widely grown or used in Papua New Guinea. In Asia it is cultivated for its edible fruit. Thailand produces about 70,000 tons each year.

Notes

It has anticancer properties.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Apeltik, Apolsikisik, Chieng, Chom pu nam, Chom pu, Chomphu-namdokmai, Chumpu sa, Farang nam, Gioi, Golabjamli, Golap jam, Golapi jamu, Gulaab jaam, Gulab jamun, Gulabjamb, Gulap jam, Hnin-thi-pin, Jambavam, Jambo-branco, Jambu bulu, Jambu desrana, Jambu kelampok, Jambi kraton, Jambu mawar, Jambuneereedu, Jamrul, Jamudolo, Jamun, Kavika ni vavalagi, Malabar-plum, Malakkachampa, Manomhom, Manzana rosa, Mirto del rio, Mjambosa, Mjamini, Pannerale, Pannirkoyya, Perunaval, Pomarrosa, Pommeroos, Rose-apple, Sambunaval, Seeni jambu, Tampoy, Thabu-thabye, Varotra, Veli jambu, Yambo, Yamu-panawa, Zama, Zamborozana

References (107)

• 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 46
• Ali, R. M., et al, (Eds.), 2010, ASEAN Herbal and Medicinal Plants. Forestry research Institute Malaysia. p 67
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 614
• Argent, G et al, nd, Manual of the Larger and More important non Dipterocarp Trees of Central Kalimantan Indonesia. Volume 2 Forest Research Institute, Samarinda, Indonesia. p 471
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 88

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