Volume 7 > Part 4 > Year 2002 > Page 875 > Myrtaceae > Syzygium

48. Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perrywfo-0000318961

J. Arnold Arbor, 19: 215. 1938; Backer & Bakh.f., Fl. Java 1: 343. 1963; T.G.Hartley & L.M.Perry, J. Arnold Arbor. 54: 40. 1973; Kosterm. in Quat. J. Taiwan Mus. 34: 123. 1981; P.S.Ashton in Dassan. & Fosberg, Fl. Ceyl. 2: 428. 1981; Whistler, J. Arnold Arbor. 69: 181. 1988; P.H.Hô, Câyco Viêtnam 2: 44. 1992; Chantar. & J.Pam., Thai Forest Bull. (Bot.) 21: 85. 1994 and synonyms therein.— Eugenia malaccensis L., Sp. Pl.: 470. 1753.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Tree to 8 m. Twigs compressed or angled, the bark brownish. Leaves with petiole 10 mm; lamina 31.7–36 by 13–14 cm, elliptic or oblong elliptic, sometimes obovate, base cuneate, apex acute or obtuse; midrib impressed on the upper surface, secondary veins 10–11 pairs, intramarginal veins 2. Inflorescence up to 4 cm, fasiculate in the axils of fallen leaves. Flowers red with pedicel 2–5 mm. Hypanthial cup 14–15 mm, cylindrical funnel-shaped. Pseudostipe 6–7 mm. Sepals 4, the outer lobes 3.2–3.5 mm, the inner lobes 5.6–6.3 mm, semiorbicular. Petals 4, 8.2–9.1 mm, free, orbicular, >200 gland dots per petal. Outer stamens 15–17 mm; anther 0.4 mm, ovate. Style ca 21 mm. Ovary 2-locular, 46–47 ovules per locule. Fruits 4–5 cm diam., oblong or globose.

Thailand : Widely cultivated, all provinces.

Distribution : Native to the Indo-Malayan region, frequently cultivated in SE Asia and introduced in other tropical countries (India – type).

Ecology : Native to the Indo-Malayan region, frequently cultivated in Southeast Asia and introduced in other tropical countries (India, type).

Vernacular : Chomphu daeng (ชมพู่แดง), chomphu ma miao (ชมพู่ม่าเมี่ยว), chomphu saraek (ชมพู่สาแหรก)(Central).

CommonName : Pomerac, Malay apple.

Uses: The fruits are edible.

Notes: Syzygium malaccense has distinctive large leaves with a cuneate base.