Eugenia - Plant Encyclopedia Results (Page 3)

This species is similar to Syzygium zeylanicum however it differs in size (bigger tree), leaves are dark glossy green on topside with longer petioles and the white fruits are slightly smaller than those of Syzygium zeylanicum.

The fruit is a fleshy yellow or red berry which is bell shaped, waxy and crisp.

The Latin word clavus means 'nail shaped', referring to the bud. The dried flower buds of this tree are the cloves of commerce and used medicinally for countless things. All parts of the tree are highly aromatic.

Cloves are an ancient spice and, because of their exceptional aromatic strength, have always been held in high esteem by cooks in Europe, Northern Africa and Asia. The tree is endemic in the North Moluccas (Indonesia). After the end of the Dutch monopoly (18th century), clove trees were introduced to other countries for cultivation. The first recorded use of cloves is by the Chinese in the 1st century B.C. In China. They were not only used for cooking but also for deodorization. During the Han dynasty (207 B. C. to 220 A. D.) those who addressed the Chinese emperor were required to hold cloves in their mouths to mask bad breath. The active ingredient, Eugenol, is still used to flavor the tooth paste. Arab traders brought cloves to Europe in the time of the Romans. At that time cloves were still very expensive. Clove first arrived in Europe around the 4th century A.D. as a highly coveted luxury.

The most important production area today is the island of Pemba near Zanzibar in Tanzania. The whole island of Pemba is covered with clove gardens, and it is reported that the island can be smelled on any ship approaching it.

In Europe cloves are used for special types of sweets or sweet breads, and for stewed fruits. Plain rice is often flavored by one or two cloves. In France, cloves often go into meat stews or broths. In England, they are most popular in pickles. Indonesians are the main consumers of cloves and use up nearly 50 percent of the world's production, not for cooking but rather for smoking. Cigarettes flavored with cloves (kretek) are extremely popular and nearly every Indonesian enjoys them. Their sweet, incense-like aroma pervades Indonesian restaurants, buses, markets and offices.

Clove is much used in perfumes, liqueurs, and love potions. It has antiseptic properties and was used in the prevention of contagious diseases, such as the Plaque. Traditional Chinese physicians have long used the plant to treat almost everything. India's traditional Ayurvedic healers have used clove since ancient times to treat respiratory and digestive ailments. The medieval German herbalists used cloves as part of anti-gout mixture. Contemporary herbalists recommend clove for digestive complaints and its oil for toothache. However, clove oil shouldn't be used in massaging or in baths, it may irritate the skin.

Clove is an ultra-tropical small size tree which will not survive temperatures below 50F. It requires a humid, warm tropical climate with lots of water year-round. It can be grown in greenhouse outside of tropics. Indoor cultivation is problematic mostly because of lack of air humidity that this plant needs for successful growth.

Syzygium campanulatum or Wild Cinnamon is a small tree native to Southeast Asia, growing about 10-20 feet in height. It's a perfect choice for those looking for an attractive, fragrant ornamental tree. It is a sun-loving tree, requiring full sun exposure, and regular water.

The tree produces an abundance of white, off-white flowers, often tinged with red and crimson, or vinous. These fragrant flowers are a sight to behold, emitting an unmistakable cinnamon scent.

Wild Cinnamon is typically grown in hardiness zones 9-11, making it a great choice if you live in one of these zones. It grows well in soil that is both well-drained and slightly acidic. The tree prefers a mildly acidic soil pH of 6-6.5, but it is quite tolerant of a wide range of soil pH.

When planted in a pot, Wild Cinnamon can survive in colder climates. It needs regular watering, at least 2-3 times a week, to ensure that the soil does not dry out completely. Also, make sure to keep the soil cold, as the tree prefers temperatures between 55-65°F. You can also protect the tree in cold months by using mulch and insulating fabrics to guard it against frost.

The Wild Cinnamon tree is an excellent choice as an ornamental tree, providing fragrant flowers and leafy smell of cinnamon. With proper care and maintenance, this small tree is sure to make a great addition to any garden.

Rose Apple is a popular fruit native to Southeast Asia. The beautiful blossoms contain hundreds of showy stamens. The crisp and juicy fruits are very distinctly rose scented and highly prized for jellies and confections. The plant is easy to grow, moderately cold hardy and tolerates poor soils. Makes an attractive, wide-spreading shade tree as well as compact and bushy container fruiting plant.

See our video about Rose Apple.

Read article about Syzygium.

Native to Malaysia, Malay Apple was an important fruit of the Polynesians, and was later distributed to the America's on Captain Bligh's voyages throughout the tropics, including many Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, Suriname, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago. It has been also spread through much of southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, now common growing wild on the Hawaiian islands. It was brought into Hawaii by Polynesians probably 1000 to 1700 years ago. The Polynesians reached the Hawaiian islands bringing plants and animals that were important to them, and Mountain apple, as it is called in Hawaii, was one of the 'canoe plants'.

This plant grows to over 60 ft in tropics in mid-elevation rain forest areas, often as large understory tree. The evergreen leaves are opposite, soft leathery and dark green; the flowers are purplish-red and form a carpet after falling under the tree. Flowering usually occurs in early summer followed by fruit ripening 3 months later. The beautiful pear shaped fruit is about the size of an apple, deep red in color, white flesh and a waxy skin. The flesh is crunchy, often juicy, with a mild sweet flavor.

Fruit are mostly eaten fresh and chilled and make great thirst quenching snacks. The fruit can also be used to make wines. The plant has important medicinal value in many tropical countries.

Malay Apple requires tropical conditions and is too tender to grow outdoors in areas with even occasional frost. Often trees will have leaf damage at temperatures well above freezing. Trees also do not like poorly drained soils, so if planted in areas with high water tables should be planted on slightly raised mounds to give them more room for the roots during periods of high rainfall. It does not succeed as well at sea level. Other than that, it requires little care providing year-round water.

The young leaves of Syzygium myrtifolium are often either yellow or orange. There is a cultivar with dark red young leaves and bright pink to maroon flowers.

They are often used as a hedging plant or ornamental tree, also sculptured into topiaries or even made into bonsai.

Native to temperate and tropical rainforests of Australia's east coast, The Brush Cherry is a small tree or shrub, sometimes used as a hedge. The new foliage, produced nearly year round, is bronze-red then maturing to a 1 to 3 inch glossy green leaf. The leaves are darker above, and paler below. White showy flowers are produced during Spring and Summer; they come in clusters, followed by fruit ripening 2-3 months later. Cherry sized, with crispy flesh surrounding a pea sized seed, it is pink, red and sometimes purple, particularly pretty when ripening. The fruit is thirst quenching, eaten fresh, but has no particular flavor. It can be used to make preserves.

The tree prefers moderate moisture year round, with a subtropical climate. Hardy to 25F, and stem hardy to short duration temperatures to about 20° F. Can be planted in coastal areas with protection from direct ocean winds. Compact grower, it can be successfully cultivated as a container plant. Recommended as a topiary subject.

This free-branching, medium sized tree similar to Malay Apple, is somewhat hardier. It also has large and wide glossy leaves and a waxy-looking fruit, probably hence the common name. The flowers and resulting fruit are not limited to the axils of the leaves and can appear on nearly any point on the surface of the trunk and branches. They are slightly fragrant, white to pale yellow, 2-3 inches wide, with four petals and countless stamens are very showy and are a rich source of nectar for honey bees. Flowers fall on the ground in 2-3 days, leaving behind the tiny fruits to mature and ripen in about 2 months. In favorable conditions, a healthy tree can produce abundant fruits and has two fruiting seasons annually, May-September and November to March. When mature, the tree is considered a heavy bearer and can yield a crop of up to 700 fruit. Fruit are are pear-shaped, 1.5-2 inches long, skin is smooth, waxy, come in varying colors ranging from white, pale green, green, pink, rose red and crimson. The reddest fruits are the sweetest and superior varieties of excellent quality are available. One of the most highly prized and sought after wax apples in Taiwan are "black pearls," which are purplish-red. Often seedless, fruits can be eaten out-of-hand. They are remarkably refreshing, juicy and quenching on a hot day. The liquid to flesh ratio of the wax apple is comparable to a watermelon. The texture is crisp, almost crunchy and juicy with a sweet, mildly scented flavor.

In Indian-Ocean-Island cuisine, the fruit is frequently used in salads, as well in with light sauteed dishes. The unripe fruits eaten with salt or dipped in a sweetish-spicy sauce.

Wax Jamboo tree usually requires very little attention and no pruning is needed. It needs adequate rainfall, some humidity and fertile soil for best growth, and is hardy to around freezing, possibly a few degrees below. Wax Jambu tree can be grown in a large container for many years, needing very little care. Just regular watering and occasional feed will be enough to get sufficient fruit to enjoy twice annually.

Syzygium suborbiculare (Red Bush Apple) is a large shrub or small tree that typically grows 5-10 ft tall, but can reach up to 20 ft in full sun with moderate water. It is native to Australia, and well-known for its ethnomedical properties. It produces white or off-white flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

The fruits of Syzygium suborbiculare are a characteristic dark blood red color, with a firm and crunchy flesh that easily breaks away from the single large seed. The fruit is sour and tangy, and is both edible and highly coveted among bush travelers. Aborigines have been known to use the fruit for medicinal purposes, such as treating chest congestion and earache. On average, each tree produces between 5-15 fruits each year, but when provided with the right conditions, a mature tree can potentially produce up to 40 or more. Nutritionally, the fruits are high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, fructose, and various other minerals and antioxidants. They have been found to help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve digestion.

Given its drought, salt spray, and fire resistance, Syzygium suborbiculare makes a great addition to any garden, especially in areas with dry tropics. It provides a good amount of shade, stunning white flowers, and delicious red fruit with many health benefits.