Malay-apple
Syzygium malaccense

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree 5 to 25 m tall. It spreads out to 4 m across. Trees tend to branch near the base. Leaves are simple, thick and leathery and shiny on both surfaces. They are large and oval. Leaves can be up to 25-30 cm long and 12 cm wide. The leaves have a vein around the edge of the leaf. Flowers are produced on old wood and on the trunk as well as in the angles where leaves join and at the ends of branches. Flowers are purple, crimson or white and 2.5 cm across. They mostly occur in dense clusters giving a brilliant display. The red stamens are often fallen under the tree. The fruit is rounded or oblong and 5-6 cm across by 6-8 cm long. The fruit has white flesh around a large brown seed. The seed is about 1.3 cm by 1.7 cm. Some kinds are seedless. The skin of the fruit is red or pink with darker stripes. The fruit are edible.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits hot, wet tropical lowlands. They grow in coastal areas in the tropics and up to 1000 m altitude. It is a rainforest species. It suits humid locations. They need fertile soil, plenty of moisture, and good drainage. They are sensitive to frost. It does best in an open sunny position. It can tolerate drought but does best where there is an absence of drought. It does not grow on atolls. It will grow with soil pH of 6.1-7.4. They occur in northeast Queensland in Australia and across Malesia. They have also been introduced into other regions. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Amazon, American Samoa, Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bougainville, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Polynesia, FSM, Ghana, Guam, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kosrae, Malaysia, Maldives, Marquesas, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Africa, West Indies, Yap

How it is used for food

The fruit can be eaten fresh or cooked. They are also used in jam and pickles. The young leaves while still red are eaten. The flowers have also been recorded as being eaten. They are preserved in syrup or eaten in salads.

A common village fruit tree in coastal areas of Papua New Guinea. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, flowers, leaves

How it is grown

Trees are normally grown from seed. Seeds need to be fresh. Seeds germinate in 2-4 weeks. They can be put in a nursery and transplanted after 8 months. Where termites are a problem damaging seedlings, growing them in light shade reduces the problem. Plants can be grown by budding, grafting, layering or cuttings. Aerial layering is probably the most common method for vegetative propagation. Budding onto rootstocks of the same species have proven successful, but they are rarely successful if rootstocks of related species are used. A spacing of 10 m between trees is suitable.

Flowering and fruiting is seasonal. In the southern hemisphere flowering is about October to November. In northeastern India flowers occur in April to May and fruit occur in May to June. Fruit ripen in 2-3 months. The fruit are ripe January to February. The yield can be 21-85 kg per tree per year.

Its other names

Local names

'ahi'a, Aceituna dulce, Acpuhl, Afio, Apel, Apil, Apuchu, Arfath, Bakoba, Barka jamun, Chom pu deng, Chomphuu-saaraek, Chumpu kraham, Daav, Darsana, Dersana, Dervem, Dork may, Faliap, Faliyap, Fekakai, Fekika kai, Gabic, Gafiga, Gahiga, Ghabiga, Ghavika, Hahi'a, Hahika, Harafath, Hipala, Hotung, Jambo-de-malaca, Jambo-vermelho, Jambu bar, Jambu bol, Jambu gadang, Jambu jambak, Jambu kling, Jambu melaka, Jambu merah, Jambu mol, Jambul bubul, Jamrool, Kabirai, Kahuek, Kalabau, Kama, Kano, Kapika, Karukae, Kaviha, Kavika, Kehi'a, Kehika, Kidel, Lal-jamrul, Maa janbu, Mafyoksi, Makopa, Makopang, Makupa, Mansana, Maranon, Matofaa, Mazenya, Mountain-apple, Mwagolu, Nonau, Nonu 'ai, Nonu fi'afi'a, 'ohi'a, Okak, Otaheite-apple, Panijamu, Pera costena, Peria jambu, Pomarosa, Pomerac, Pommerak, Pucuk jambak, Roi do, Rose-apple, Sa’au, Sa’u, Tahiti apple, Te kabika, Thabyu-thabye, Yambu, Zabu-thabye-ahni

Synonyms

Caryophyllus malaccensis (L.) Stokes; Eugenia domestica Baill.; Eugenia macrophylla Lam.; Eugenia malaccensis L.; Jambosa domestica Blume; Jambosa malaccensis (L.) DC.;