From Common trees
of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands
by Elbert L. Little and Frank H. Wadsworth
Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae)
Manzana
malaya,
Malay-apple
Eugenia malaccensis
L.
Malay-apple, an exotic tree occasionally
planted for ornament,
shade, and windbreaks, is identified by: (1) an erect stem and dense
conical or columnar crown of dark green foliage; (2) opposite, large,
oblong, mostly dark green, leathery leaves, short-stalked, with blades
7-12 inches long and 3-5 inches broad, long-pointed at apex and
short-pointed at base: (3) pretty purplish-red or rosepurple flowers
composed of a mass of spreading stamens 2½-3 inches across, like pins
in a pin cushion, several clustered together along twigs back of leaves
and hidden in crown; and (4) red (sometimes pink or whitish)
pear-shaped fruits 2-3 inches long and 1-2 inches in diameter, with 4
sepals at apex and the white, slightly sour edible flesh with applelike
flavor.
A small to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-40 feet tall and
3-8 inches in trunk diameter, or larger. The bark is light brown,
smoothish to slightly fissured. Inner bark is brownish streaked and
slightly astringent. The twigs are light brown, green when young, with
slightly raised leaf scars. Petioles are½-¾ inch long, stout, green to
brown. Leaf blades are slightly curved upward on both sides of midrib,
the lateral veins slightly sunken and connected near margins, the upper
surface dark green or green and usually slightly shiny, and the lower
surface dull light green. Scattered minute gland dots are visible with
a lens when the blade is held toward the light.
Several to many
odorless flowers are borne in clusters 4-5 inches across, almost
stalkless on a short branched green lateral axis (cyme or panicle). The
flower has a funnel-shaped, light purplish- green base (hypanthium) ¾
inch long and 7/16 inch wide at top, enclosing the ovary and extending
as a broad tube 3/16 inch beyond. There are 4 broad, rounded,
thickened, persistent sepals 1/8-3/16 inch long; 4 spreading, rounded,
concave, purplish-red petals ½ inch long; the mass of stamens 1-1¼
inches long, purplish red with yellow dot anthers; and pistil composed
of inferior 2-celled ovary and persistent purplish-red straight style
about 1¼ inches long. As the stamens fall, the ground under the tree
becomes a purplish-red carpet.
The berries have thin soft skin,
crisp juicy flesh with pleasant flavor, and 1 large rounded light brown
seed about ¾ inch in diameter. Seeds recorded as 96 to a pound.
Flowering and fruiting nearly thtough the year.
The sapwood is light
brown. The wood is described as hard, tough, very heavy, but tending to
warp, and difficult to work. The tree is not sufficiently common for
its wood to be much used in Puerto Kico or the Virgin Islands.
Widely
cultivated elsewhere for the fruits, which are eaten raw or also cooked
or preserved or used for wine, and for ornament. One author places this
among the most beautiful flowering trees of the tropics. It is said
that the slightly sour stamens can be prepared into salads. Easily
propagated from seed and of moderately rapid growth.
Malay-apple was
introduced into Jamaica in 1793 from Tahiti by Captain Bligh of the
British ship Providence. This, along with breadfruit, was one of
several trees brought in to provide inexpensive food for the slaves.
Limited
chiefly to urban areas in Puerto Rico, planted around buildings but
occasionally also for windbreaks in rural areas on the moist coast.
Also in St. Croix.
Range
- Native probably of Malay Archipelago or Malay
Peninsula. Widely planted
through the tropics, including West Indies and continental tropical
America. Uncommon in southern Florida.
Other Common
Names - pomarrosa
malaya, ohia (Puerto Rico); cajuilito suliman (Dominican Republic);
pomarrosa de Malaca, pera (Cuba); maranon japones (El Salvador);
manzana (Costa Rica); maraiion de Curasao, manzana de Faiti (Panama);
pomarrosa de Malaca (Colombia); pomagas, pomagada (Venezuela);
Malay-apple, ohia (United States, English); Otaheite-apple (Jamaica,
British West Indies); pomerac, pomme malac (Trinidad); French - cashew
(British Guiana); jamelac (French); pomme de Tahiti, pomme de Malaisie
(Guadeloupe); pommerak (Surinam); jambeiro, jambo encarnado (Brazil).
Botanical
Synonyms - Jambasa malaccensis (L.) DC, Syzygium
malaccense (L.) Merrill & Perry.
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