Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merrill & Perry
Tree with buttressed stem, flaky, pink-red bark, elliptic leaves to 15cm long, and groups of 4 cream to red-purple flowers held under the leaves, followed by edible, vitamin-rich pink fruits ripening to black, to 2cm across. To 25m. [RHSD, Hortus].
Horticultural & Botanical History
‘[Jambosa malaccensis is a] Native of the Malay Islands. Cultivated, also, in the West Indies on account of its esculent, but, as it is said, not very highly flavoured fruit: and hence we suspect, and also from a notion that the true Malaccensis had a white flower, De Candolle has considered the excellent figure given by Sir James Smith, from Mr. Hibbert’s collection, a new species, to which he gave the name of purpurascens. Our very handsome plant, sent to Kew by Dr. Wallich from the Calcutta Garden, flowers in the stove in June.’ [BM t.4408/1848]. FS f.429/1849.
An important genus economically, Syzygium aromaticum is the source of cloves, which are the dried, unopened flowers. Syzygium malaccense was introduced to Britain in 1768. [JD].
History at Camden Park
Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [T.588/1850].
Notes
Published Jan 17, 2010 - 03:33 PM | Last updated Mar 29, 2010 - 04:25 PM
Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merrill & Perry | BM t.4408/1848 | BHL
| Family | Myrtaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Tropical Australia to Malaysia |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Pomerac, Malay apple, Lilly-pilly |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Jambosa Malaccensis |
| Confidence level | high |