Swamp waterberry
Syzygium owariense

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A semi-deciduous tree. It grows up to 8-17 m tall. It has stilt roots. It has branches that point upwards into a bushy crown. The bark is grey and changes from smooth to rough with age. The leaves occur opposite one another along the branch. They are blue-green and thick and leathery. They are about 10 cm long and shiny. The leaf tapers to a long blunt point. The leaf stalk is pink-red and the midrib is pink-yellow on top but clear underneath. The leaf has a smell when crushed. The flowers are creamy white coloured and with many stamens. The flowers have a sweet smell. The flower clusters are up to 15 cm across. They occur on angular square stalks. The fruit is oblong and fleshy. It is about 1.5 cm long by 1 cm wide. The fruit is green at first but becomes purple to black when ripe. The fruit has one seed.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in swamp forest often not far from the sea. It is most commonly along stream banks. It occurs in southern Africa and in west Africa. It grows at higher altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Leaves and fruit contain the oil eugenol used for flavouring food. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The seeds are discarded.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from fresh seed. Seed only remains viable for one day. They can be put in pots then transplanted or planted directly in their final site. Seeds germinate well and within about 30 days. There are 400 seeds per kg.

Fruit are collected at the end of the rainy season and into the early dry season.

Its other names

Local names

Cisombo, Ihugu, Katope, Katubwi, Luwamba, Mafuwa, Malmoa, Mfowo, Mpambwesu, Musu, Muwuwu, Ori-odo, Wurum

Synonyms

Eugenia owariensis Beauv.;