Ambake
Syzygium formosum

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It has widely spreading branches. The bark is ash coloured. It has scars from where the leaves fell. The leaves have leaf stalks. The leaves are crowded at the ends of small branches. They are oblong and taper to a point. They are leathery and shiny above but paler underneath. They can be heart shaped at the base. The flowers are purple and turn red. The fruit is a berry. It is round but flattened.

There are about 550 Eugenia species. They are mostly in tropical and subtropical South America.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. In Nepal it grows to 300 m altitude. It grows in open places. In Sikkim is grows between 300-1,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are edible. The calyces are used as a vegetable. They are cooked with other vegetables or fish. Young leaves are eaten as a fresh vegetable along with other vegetables and herbs and boiled pork.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, calyx, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ambakay, Ambake, Bara jaman, Bhukua chapa, Dieng-sa-ludong, Kurak, Kywe-thabye, Labung garai, Laha jam, Longchen, Mai-si-sen, Mirte phong, Natla, Paniya jam, Phul jamb, Son-myet, Thabe-pinbwa, Wabaw

Synonyms

Eugenia formosa Wall.; Eugenia ternifolia Roxb.; Jambosa formosa (Wallich) G. Don; Jambosa mappacea Korth.; Jambosa tenuifolia Sweet; Syzygium mappaceum (Korth.) Merr. & L. M. Perry;