Syzygium samarangense (Syzygium javanicum)

Wax-Jambu

Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & Perry (Syzygium javanicum)

siz-IJ-ee-um sam-ah-rnag-EN-see

Malay-Apple, Pomerac

Syzygium malaccense Merr. & Perry

mal-ah-SEN-see

Malabar Plum

Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston

JAM-bose

Java Plum

Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeel

CUE-ma-nie

Myrtaceae

Key to Species of Syzygium Encountered in South Florida

1.        Leaves < 1.5” long, common hedge species…Syzygium paniculatum Brush-Cherry

1.        Leaves larger…2

2.        Flowers fuchsia-colored…Syzygium malaccense Malay-Apple (seldom seen)

2.        Flowers white…3 (note three choices for 3)

3.        Mature fruit purple…Syzygium cumini Java Plum (invasive weed)

3.        Mature fruit usually white or yellowish, flecked with gray, egg-shaped…Syzygium jambos Malabar Plum (weedish)

3.     Mature fruit usually reddish, thickest at one end, pear-shaped…Syzygium samarangense Wax-Jambu

Explanation of name:    For generic name, see Syzygium paniculatum.   Samarang is a city in Java.  Malaccense refers to the Indonesian state of Malacca.

Natural range: Tropical Asia

Recognition:   Syzygium is closely allied to Eugenia, and differs by having two distinct cotyledons and a rough seed that adheres to the fruit flesh.    

The invasive exotic Java-Plum or Jamoon Plum Syzygium cumini is a FLEPPC Category I invader.  It produces edible purple “plums.”   Syzygium jambos, Malabar Plum, is likewise invasive and escapes cultivation, although not as severely as S. cumini. It differs from Java Plum by having long-tapered (vs. acute) leaf blades, white or yellow (vs. purple) fruits, raceme (vs. panicle) inflorescences, flowers buds > 15 mm (vs. < 6 mm) long, a lobed (vs. unlobed) calyx, petals not united, and white or yellowish fruits (data largely from WU2).   Brush-Cherry, treated separately in this book, is Syzygium paniculatum.

Landscape uses:   Syzygium samarangense  and S. malaccense are fruiting trees for strictly tropical settings.  Syzygium malaccense is too cold-sensitive to have a significant presence in Florida.  Syzygium samarangense is cultivated in southern Florida at least as far north as Palm Beach County.  It may be propagated by seed, by air layers, and by grafting.

Internet sources:  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/malay_apple.html

http://www.quisqualis.com/34waxjamjoy.html

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/wax_jambu.htm

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi055

http://www.jaycjayc.com/syzygium-samarangense-waxjambu-java-roseapple/