White love apple
Syzygium eucalyptoides subsp. bleeseri

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree with several stems. It grows from 2-18 m high. Often the tree has buttresses. But it can also occur as a clump of small suckers. The bark is grey-brown and mostly smooth although sometimes it is flaky. The leaves are rounded. The leaves are 5-14 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The leaf stalk is long (3 cm). The leaves are produced opposite each other and are thick and leathery. They are a dull green with distinct veins. The tip of the leaf is rounded. The flowers occur in a cluster at the ends of branches. Sometimes flowers occur on branches or in leaf axils. The flowers are white or cream coloured and are fluffy in appearance due to the stamens which can be 2 cm long. The fruit is white or pale green but can be tinged with pink or red as it ripens. It can be 1.5-4 cm across. The surface of the fruit is ribbed. The fruit has a distinct crown at the end. There is one seed inside the succulent fruit. The fruit is edible.

Where it is found

It is a tropical species. It occurs in the north-west of Australia. It grows in open forest. Often it occurs on sandy soils. It is common on poorer soils and often these soils are waterlogged in some seasons. It is resistant to fire due to a lignotuber under the ground. It can re-grow new shoots from this structure.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

The flowers occur October to December (August to November) with fruit in January (September to December).

Its other names

Local names

Andjalbbirdo, Bermbetjek, Morlanggi, Pinyama, Werner

Synonyms

Eugenia eucalyptoides F. Muell. ; Eugenia bleeseri O. Schwarz; Eugenia stokesii C. Gardner;