Grey satinash, Watergum
Syzygium gustavioides

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 15 m tall. It can grow to 40 m tall. It has a round spreading crown of leaves. The bark is flaky. The leaves are simple and thick and leathery. They are elongated and 15 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. They are dark green above and paler underneath. Young leaves are brilliant purplish-red. The flowers are small and cream coloured. They occur in loose clusters near the ends of branches. The fruit are hard and about 6 cm across but they can be larger. They are green or dull brown. The fruit have a sunken crown at the top and this can vary considerably in size. The fruit have one seed inside.

Where it is found

A tropical species. It occurs in rainforests in northeast Queensland in Australia. Young plants need some shade protection. Trees need plenty of water. Trees grow in both the lowland and highland rainforest. In tropical Queensland it grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is grown from fresh seed.

It is an easy to grow tree. Flowering occurs at different times throughout the year but fruit may be ripe May to September (February to December).

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Cleistocalyx gustavioides (F. M. Bailey) Merr. & L. M. Bailey; Eugenia gustavioides F. M. Bailey;