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Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston

Family Name:	Myrtaceae
Synonyms:	Eugenia jambos
Common Name:	Rose Apple, Malabar Plum, Jambu Air Mawar, Jambu Mawar, Jambu Kraton, Jambu Kelampok, Jambu Mawer

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Small (6m-15m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	10 m
Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter	0

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Malesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Description and Ethnobotany

Others - Plant Morphology	Growth Form: Small, evergreen tree with a dense, spreading crown. Habitat: Occurs in the tropics and subtropics, but it grows best in the tropics at altitudes of 0 - 1200 m. Trunk: Short, low-branching trunk has brown, smooth bark. Foliage: Glossy, opposite leaves are oblong to lanceolate with entire leaf margin and long tapering tip (9 - 26 cm long, 1.5 - 6 cm wide). Flowers: Large pom-pom shaped flowers (5-10 cm wide) are arranged in inflorescences known as corymbs. Fruits: Fleshy, pitted fruits are known as drupes (2.5 - 5 cm wide). They are whitish to yellow, round to egg-shaped and smell like rosewater. The fruit apex has a crown-like structure formed by a persistent calyx (the outermost layer of a flower that often resembles small leaves). Landscaping: This species is grown as a roadside tree or fruit tree in home gardens. Cultivation: This species is tolerant of most soil types including waterlogged soils. Optimal growth will occur in acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5 - 7). Trees should be spaced 5 m x 6 m apart. It is susceptible to fungal diseases, such as root rot, leaf spots and anthracnose. Propagation: Propagate by seed, budding, air layering, and grafting. Propagation by seed is the most common method, but seeds do not store well and must be sown promptly.Etymology: The genus name "Syzygium" is derived from the Greek word "suzugos" which means joined. Syzygium used to be the name of a Jamaican plant species with paired leaves and branches. It is commonly known as Rose Apple, because the fruits can be distilled to produce rosewater.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit & Vegetable) Others: Food: The fruits are consumed raw or cooked. Although this species is grown in home gardens for its fruits, it is usually not grown in commercial orchards. Other: Essential oils in the leaves are extracted by distillation and used in the perfume industry.

Others - Plant Morphology

Growth Form: Small, evergreen tree with a dense, spreading crown. Habitat: Occurs in the tropics and subtropics, but it grows best in the tropics at altitudes of 0 - 1200 m. Trunk: Short, low-branching trunk has brown, smooth bark. Foliage: Glossy, opposite leaves are oblong to lanceolate with entire leaf margin and long tapering tip (9 - 26 cm long, 1.5 - 6 cm wide). Flowers: Large pom-pom shaped flowers (5-10 cm wide) are arranged in inflorescences known as corymbs. Fruits: Fleshy, pitted fruits are known as drupes (2.5 - 5 cm wide). They are whitish to yellow, round to egg-shaped and smell like rosewater. The fruit apex has a crown-like structure formed by a persistent calyx (the outermost layer of a flower that often resembles small leaves). Landscaping: This species is grown as a roadside tree or fruit tree in home gardens. Cultivation: This species is tolerant of most soil types including waterlogged soils. Optimal growth will occur in acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.5 - 7). Trees should be spaced 5 m x 6 m apart. It is susceptible to fungal diseases, such as root rot, leaf spots and anthracnose. Propagation: Propagate by seed, budding, air layering, and grafting. Propagation by seed is the most common method, but seeds do not store well and must be sown promptly.Etymology: The genus name "Syzygium" is derived from the Greek word "suzugos" which means joined. Syzygium used to be the name of a Jamaican plant species with paired leaves and branches. It is commonly known as Rose Apple, because the fruits can be distilled to produce rosewater.

Ethnobotanical Uses

Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits
Food (Fruit & Vegetable)
Others: Food: The fruits are consumed raw or cooked. Although this species is grown in home gardens for its fruits, it is usually not grown in commercial orchards. Other: Essential oils in the leaves are extracted by distillation and used in the perfume industry.

Landscaping Features

Landscape Uses	Roadside Tree / Palm, Coastal
Thematic Landscaping	Economic Garden
Usage Hazard - Cons	Toxic Upon Ingestion

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Saline Soils / Salt Spray
Propagation Method	Seed, Grafting, Marcotting
Propagation Method Remarks	Budding

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Lanceolate, Oblong)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate
Foliar Base	Acute
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Mature Bark Texture	Smooth
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Inflorescence Type	Corymb
Flowering Period	Once Yearly
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	White
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Drupe

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1868
Species ID	3161
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.