thumb|right|[[Syzygium paniculatum (magenta lilly pilly)]]

thumb|right|[[Syzygium samarangense, with a cross section of the fruit]]

Syzygium () is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1200 species, and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific. Its highest levels of diversity occur from Malaysia to northeastern Australia, where many species are very poorly known and many more have not been described taxonomically. One indication of this diversity is in leaf size, ranging from as little as a half inch (1.3 cm) to as great as 4 ft 11 inches (1.5 meters) by 16 inches (41 centimeters) in Syzygium acre of New Caledonia.

Most species are evergreen trees and shrubs. Several species are grown as ornamental plants for their attractive glossy foliage, and a few produce edible fruits called rose apples that are eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. The most economically important species, however, is the clove Syzygium aromaticum, of which the unopened flower buds are an important spice. Some of the edible species of Syzygium are planted throughout the tropics worldwide, and several have become invasive species in some island ecosystems. Fifty-two species are found in Australia and are generally known as lillipillies, brush cherries or satinash.

Taxonomy

At times Syzygium was confused taxonomically with the genus Eugenia (c. 1000 species), but the latter genus has its highest specific diversity in the neotropics. Many species formerly classed as Eugenia are now included in the genus Syzygium, although the former name may persist in horticulture.

Species

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thumb|right|An Australian rainforest Syzygium exhibits [[cauliflory.]]

thumb|right|[[Syzygium cumini in Kohat Pakistan]]

Selected species include:

  • Syzygium cumini <small>(L.) Skeels</small> – Jambul, Jambolan, Black plum, Duhat plum, Jambolan plum
  • Syzygium curranii - Lipote
  • Syzygium densiflorum
  • Syzygium diffusum
  • Syzygium discophorum
  • Syzygium duthieanum
  • Syzygium dyerianum
  • Syzygium elegans
  • Syzygium erythrocalyx – Johnstone River satinash, Red Bud satinash
  • Syzygium eucalyptoides
  • Syzygium fibrosum – Fibrous satinash
  • Syzygium fijiense
  • Syzygium floribundum <small>F.Muell.</small>
  • Syzygium flosculiferum
  • Syzygium forte – White Apple
  • Syzygium francisii – Giant water gum, rose satinash
  • Syzygium fullagarii (Lord Howe Island)
  • Syzygium glaucum
  • Syzygium goodenovii <small>(King) Masam.</small>
  • Syzygium graeme-andersoniae
  • Syzygium grande – Sea apple
  • Syzygium guehoi
  • Syzygium guineense – Waterberry
  • Syzygium hemisphericum <small>(Wight) Alston</small>
  • Syzygium hodgkinsoniae – Red lilly pilly, smooth-barked rose apple (Australia)
  • Syzygium ingens <small>(F.Muell. ex C.Moore) Craven & Biffin</small>
  • Syzygium jambos <small>(L.) Alston</small> – Roseapple, Malabar plum, plum rose, rose apple, water apple
  • Syzygium jasminifolium
  • Syzygium kemamanense
  • Syzygium kiahii
  • Syzygium koordersianum
  • Syzygium kuranda – Kuranda satinash
  • Syzygium leucoxylon
  • Syzygium luehmannii – Riberry, cherry satinash
  • Syzygium maingayi
  • Syzygium maire <small>(A.Cunn.) Sykes & Garn.-Jones</small>
  • Syzygium makul <small>Gaertn.</small>
  • Syzygium malaccense <small>(L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry</small> – Malay Apple, Malacca apple, Malay rose apple, mountain apple, Otaheite cashew, rose apple, water apple
  • Syzygium manii <small>(King) N.P.Balakr.</small>
  • Syzygium micranthum
  • Syzygium microphyllum (Syzygium gambleanum is an illegitimate synonym)
  • Syzygium minus
  • Syzygium monimioides
  • Syzygium moorei – Coolamon, durobby
  • Syzygium myhendrae
  • Syzygium myrtifolium – red lip
  • Syzygium neesianum
  • Syzygium nemestrinum
  • Syzygium nervosum
  • Syzygium occidentale
  • Syzygium oleosum – Blue lilly pilly
  • Syzygium oliganthum
  • Syzygium oreophilum
  • Syzygium palghatense
  • Syzygium paniculatum – Magenta lilly pilly, magenta cherry (Australia)
  • Syzygium parameswaranii
  • Syzygium papyraceum – Paperbark satinash (Australia)
  • Syzygium pauper
  • Syzygium pendens
  • Syzygium pergamentaceum
  • Syzygium phaeophyllum
  • Syzygium politum
  • Syzygium polyanthum <small>(Wight) Walp.</small> – Indian bay leaf, Indonesian bay leaf, Salam leaf, daun salam, Indonesian laurel
  • Syzygium polycephaloides - Lipote
  • Syzygium pondoense
  • Syzygium praineanum
  • Syzygium pseudofastigiatum (Australia)
  • Syzygium purpureum
  • Syzygium quadribracteatum
  • Syzygium rama-varmae
  • Syzygium revolutum
  • Syzygium ridleyi <small>(King) Chantar. & J.Parn.</small>
  • Syzygium ripicola <small>(Craib) Merr. & L.M.Perry</small>
  • Syzygium rotundifolium <small>Arn.</small>
  • Syzygium salicifolium <small>(Wight) J.Graham</small>
  • Syzygium samarangense <small>(Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry</small> – Java apple, makopa, Java rose apple, Samarang rose apple, water apple, wax jambu, wax apple
  • Syzygium samoense
  • Syzygium sandwicensis <small>(A.Gray) Nied.</small> – Ōhia ha
  • Syzygium scortechinii <small>(King) Chantar. & J.Parn.</small>
  • Syzygium seemannianum <small>Merr. & L.M.Perry</small>
  • Syzygium smithii
  • Syzygium spathulatum <small>Thwaites</small>
  • Syzygium stapfianum <small>(King) I.M.Turner</small>
  • Syzygium staudtii <small>(Engl.) Mildbr.</small>
  • Syzygium stocksii <small>(Duthie) Gamble</small>
  • Syzygium suborbiculare – lady apple
  • Syzygium symingtonianum <small>(M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner</small>
  • Syzygium tahanense <small>(Ridl.) I.M.Turner</small>
  • Syzygium thompsonii - Atoto (Guam, Rota, Saipan)
  • Syzygium turbinatum <small>Alston</small>
  • Syzygium umbrosum <small>Thwaites</small>
  • Syzygium utilis <small>(Talbot) Rathakr. & N.C.Nair</small>
  • Syzygium variolosum <small>(King) Chantar. & J.Parn.</small>
  • Syzygium wesa <small>B.Hyland</small>
  • Syzygium wolfii <small>(Gillespie) Merr. & L.M.Perry</small>
  • Syzygium wrayi <small>(King) I.M.Turner</small>
  • Syzygium wrightii <small>(Baker) A.J.Scott</small>
  • Syzygium xerampelinum <small>B.Hyland</small>
  • Syzygium zeylanicum <small>(L.) DC.</small>

References

Further reading

  • CRFG.org
  • Unimelb.edu.au