Publication
from Agroforestree Database: a tree reference and selection guide
version 4.0
by C. Orwa, A. Mutua, R. Kindt, R. Jamnadass and S. Anthony
Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & Perry
Local Names: Burmese
(thabyo-thabyay), English (wax jambu, Malay-apple, long fruited
rose-apple), Filipino (tersana, pomerac), French (poirier de Malaque),
German (Apfel- Jambose), Indonesian (jambu bol), Malay (jambu bol),
Spanish (Pomarrosa malay), Thai (chomphu-saraek); Vietnamese (cay roi)
Family: Myrtaceae
Botanic
Description
Syzygium malaccense is a tree to 20 m tall, with straight trunk, 20-45 cm diameter, often branched near the base and with broadly ovoid canopy.
Leaves opposite, elliptic-oblong, 15-38 cm x 7-20 cm, thick-coriaceous, petiole 0.5-1.5 cm long, thick, red when young.
Inflorescences
exclusively on defoliate twig-parts, short and dense, 1-12- flowered;
flowers 5-7 cm in diameter, red; calyx-tube ventricose towards apex,
1.5-2 cm long, with broad lobes 4-8 mm long; petals 4, oblong-ovate or
orbicular-ovate, up to 2 cm long, dark red; stamens numerous, up to 3.5
cm long, with red filaments; style 3-4.5 cm long, red.
Fruit a
berry, ellipsoid, 5-8 cm in diameter, crowned by the incurved
non-fleshy calyx segments, dark red or purplish-yellow or yellow-white;
flesh 0.5-2.5 cm thick, juicy, white, fragrant.
Seed 1 per fruit, globose, 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, brown.
Biology
There are definite
flowering seasons, often two, sometimes three in a year, but the timing
varies from year to year. There seems to be no regular growth rhythm
for Malay apple. Apparently the trees are triggered in bloom (by wet
weather following a dry period) more readily than water apple (S. aqueum) and wax jambu (S. samarangense)
trees; at any rate, Malay apple usually has the most crops per year.
Malay apple ripen about 60 days after bloom. Polyembryony occurs in the
genus and has been observed in Malay apple seed. Shoot growth proceeds
in flushes which are more of less synchronous, depending on the
climate. The juvenile period lasts for 3-7 years. Bearing of clonal
trees stars after 3-5 years.
Ecology
The trees are at
home in fairly moist tropical lowlands up to 1200 m elevation. Malay
apple is restricted to the wetter climates. The species require a
reliable water supply and are often planted along streams or ponds.
Biophysical
Limits
Altitude: Up to 1200 m.
Soil types: The trees prefer heavy soils and easy access to water insteard of having to search for water in light deep soils.
Documented
Species Distribution
Native: Indonesia, Malaysia
Exotic: Fiji, India
The
map above shows countries where the species has been planted. It does
neither suggest that the species can be planted in every ecological
zone within that country, nor that the species can not be planted in
other countries than those depicted. Since some tree species are
invasive, you need to follow biosafety procedures that apply to your
planting site.
Products
Food: The tree is grown for their fruit, which substitute for one another in the marketplace. Whereas S. malaccense can easily be recognized, it is not easy to distinguish between the various S. aqueum and S. samarangense
fruits. The ripe fruit is sweet and is mainly eaten fresh. Malay
apples are often stewed with other fruit to tone down the sour taste of
the latter. The Malay apple is usually red with pink or white streaks;
the flesh is thick, rather dry and scented, but often insipid. Eighty
per cent or more of the fruit is edible. The composition of the species
per 100 g edible portion is similar with S. samarangense:
water more than 90%, protein 0.3 g, fat none, carbohydrates 3.9 g,
fibre 1 g, vitamin A 253 IU, vitamin B1 and B2 traces, vitamin C 0.1
mg, energy value 80 kJ/100 g (analysis for S. samarangense in Thailand).
Timber: The wood is reddish, hard and grows to dimensions large enough for construction purposes.
Medicine: Various parts of the
tree are used in traditional medicine, and some have in fact been shown
to possess antibiotic activity. In particular the bark, leaves and
roots of Malay apple are used against different ailments in a number of
countries, also outside Asia (e.g. Hawaii, Brazil).
Tree
Management
Tree
spacing ranges from 6-8 m. The trees receive little attention after the
first year or two when manuring, weeding, mulching and watering ensure
rapid increase of tree volume. Trees which bear well benefit from
compound fertilizers applied after harvest and supplemented with a top
dressing as soon as the inflorescences are being formed. There appears
to be no experience with pruning or fruit thinning. Malay apple yields
of 20-85 kg/tree are reported.
The trees are at home in fairly
moist tropical lowlands up to 1200 m elevation. Malay apple is
restricted to the wetter climates. The species require a reliable water
supply and are often planted along streams or ponds.
Propagation
from seed is common. Seeds are sometimes abortive. Seeds lose their
viability quickly and should be sown fresh from the fruit. Clonal
propagation through air layers, cuttings or budding is not difficult.
Air layering is commonly employed in South-East Asia. The modified
Forkert method is recommended for budding. Seedlings of the same or
other Syzygium species are used as rootstocks. In Java 'jambu klampok' or 'kopo' (S. pycnanthum Merr. & Perry, syn. Eugenia densiflora (Blume) Duthie) is recommended as rootstock because it is hardy and not attacked by termites.
Pests and
Diseases
There
are no specific recommendations for crop protection, but the incidence
of pests and diseases certainly warrants a study of the causal
organisms and their control.
Further
Reading
Dunstan CA,
Noreen Y, et al. 1997. Evaluation of some Samoan and Peruvian medicinal
plants by prostaglandin biosynthesis and rat ear oedema assays. Journal
ot Ethnopharmacology. 57(1): 35-56.
Jensen M. 1995. trees commonly
cultivated in Southeast Asia: An illustrated guide. FAO Regional Office
for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). Bangkok, Thailand.
Magness JR,
Markle GM & Compton CC. 1971. Food and feed crops of the United
States. Interregional Research Project IR-4, IR Bul. 1 (Bul 828 New
Jersey Agr. Expt. Ata.)
Martin FW, Campbell CW & Ruberte RM.
1987. Perennial edible fruits of tropics: an inventory. US Department
of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. 642. 252 pp.
Molesworh AB. 1967. Malayan fruits. Donald Moor Press Ltd., Singapore. pp. 115-125.
Morton J. 1987. Malay Apple. In: Fruits of warm climates. Creative Resource Systems, Winterville, N.C. pp378-383.
Noreen
Y, Serrano G, et al. 1998. Flavan-3-ols isolated from some medicinal
plants inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 catalysed prostaglandin biosynthesis.
Planta Medica. 64(6): 520-524.
Okuda T et al. 1982. Ellagitannins of the Casuarinaceae, Trachyuraceae and Myrtaceae. Phytochemistry. 21(12): 2871-2874.
Parnell J. 1999. Numerical analysis of Thai menbers of the Eugenia-Syzygium group (Myrtaceae). Blumea. 44(2): 351-379.
Shah K and Thanki YJ. 1998. Comparative nodal anatomy of some taxa of Myrtaceae. Journal of Phytological Research. 11(1): 57-59.
Verheij
EWM, Coronel RE (eds.). 1991. Plant Resources of South East Asia No 2.
Edible fruits and nuts. Backuys Publishers, Leifen.
Walter A, Sam C. 2001. Fruits of Oceania. ACIAR Monograph No. 85. Canberra. 329 pp.
Whistler WA. 1988. A revision of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) in Samoa (Pacific Ocean). Journal Of The Arnold Arboretum Harvard University. 69(2): 167-192.
Wong
KC and Lai FY. 1996. Volatile constituents from the fruits of four
Syzygium species grown in Malaysia. Flavour and Flagrance Journal.
11(1): 61-66.
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