Volume 7 > Part 4 > Year 2002 > Page 868 > Myrtaceae > Syzygium

39. Syzygium jambos (L.) Alstonwfo-0000318809

in Trimen, Handb. Fl. Ceylon 6 (Suppl.): 115. 1931; Merr. & L.M.Perry, J. Amold Arbor. 19: 114, 217. 1938; Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts 18: 165. 1939; Merr., Philipp. J. Sci. 79: 397. 1950; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 344. 1963; Kosterm. in Quat. J. Taiwan Mus. 34: 141. 1981; P.S.Ashton in Dassan. & Fosberg, Fl. Ceyl. 2: 427. 1981; Harid. & R.R. Rao, Forest Fl. Meghalaya: 397. 1985; Whistler, J. Arnold Arbor. 69: 183. 1988; D.G.Long & Rae in Grierson & D.G.Long, Fl. Bhutan 2: 280. 1991; P.H.Hô, Câyco Viêtnam 2: 44. 1992: Chantar. & J.Pam., Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 21: 77. 1994 and synonyms therein.— Eugenia jambos L., Sp. Pl.: 470. 1753.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tree to 10 m. Twigs slender, compressed or angled, the bark whitish grey or brown. Leaves with petiole 7–14 mm; lamina 12.2–17.5 by 3–4.5 cm, oblong lanceolate, base cuneate, apex acute or acuminate; midrib impressed on the upper surface, secondary veins 11–14 pairs, intramarginal veins 2. Inflorescence up to 6 cm, terminal, raceme, with 3–8 flowers, rarely 1 flowered; peduncle 30–50 mm, rachis and branches terete. Flowers white or pale yellow; pedicel 3–13 mm. Hypanthial cup 12–14 mm, broadly funnel-shaped. Pseudostipe 4–6 mm. Sepals 4, 4.9–7.7 mm, semiorbicular, rim hyaline. Petals 4, 15–17 mm, free, orbicular, base thick, >200 gland dots per petal. Outer stamens 33–37 mm; anther 1–1.2 mm, elliptic oblong. Style ca 43 mm, exceeding the stamens. Ovary 2-locular, ca 28 ovules per locule. Fruits 5–6 cm diam., depressed globose.

Thailand : All provinces.

Distribution : Native to the Indo-Malayan region, widely cultivated in tropical regions (India – type).

Ecology : Villages, plantations, 0–300 m alt.

Vernacular : Ma ha khok lok (มะห้าคอกลอก)(Mae Hong Son); ma samut (มะซามุด), ma nam hom (มะน้ำหอม)(Northern); chomphu nam dok mai (ชมพู่น้ำดอกไม้)(Central); ya-mu-pa-na-wa (ยามู่ปะนาว่า)(Malay-Yala); farang nam (ฝรั่งน้ำ)(Peninsular).

CommonName : Rose apple.

Uses: Fruits are edible.

Notes: Distinctive on account of its leaves which are narrowly lanceolate or elliptic lanceolate and pointed at each end. Although it superficially resembles Syzygium siamense it differs in possessing a usually white or pale yellow flower and angled twigs, a different leaf texture, cuneate leaf bases and two intramarginal veins.