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


Figured are elliptic leaves and clumps of bright red, brush-like flowers.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.4408, 1848.

Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merrill & Perry | BM t.4408/1848 | BHL

More details about Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merrill & Perry
Family Myrtaceae
Category
Region of origin

Tropical Australia to Malaysia

Synonyms
  • Jambosa malaccensis DC.
  • Eugenia malaccensis L.
Common Name

Pomerac, Malay apple, Lilly-pilly

Name in the Camden Park Record

Jambosa Malaccensis 

Confidence level high