Guava berry, Striped myrtle tree
Syzygium lineatum

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 25 m high. The trunk is 35 cm across. There are buttresses 70 cm high. The dark is grey brown. It is smooth and slightly scaly. The leaves are oval or sword shaped and 5-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They are broadest in the middle. They taper to the tip. The edges can be wavy. The base tapers narrowly. There are 16-25 pairs of secondary veins. The flowering stalks are both in the axils of upper leaves and at the ends. They are 2-10 cm long. The flowering stalk is 2 cm long. The flowers are white or pale yellow. They occur in 3's. The fruits are white. They are oval and 10-13 mm long by 10 mm wide. There are calyx lobes in a ring at the tip. The outer layer is pith, sweet and has a smell.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests and in peat swamp. It is often along streams. In Indonesia it grows up to 1,100 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Central America, China, Cuba, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia (country/location of origin), Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten. The ripe fruit are sometimes eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Chang hua pu tao, Kayu udang, Kitamaga, Manting, Nagasaren, Pohon jambu gelam tikus, Pring phnom Thabye

Synonyms

Clavimyrtus latifolia Blume; Clavimyrtus lineata (Candolle) Blume; Eugenia lineata (Sw.) DC.; Eugenia longiflora F.Vill.; Jambosa lineata DC.; Myrtus lineata Sw.; Syzygium longiflorum Presl.;