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Syzygium cerasiforme (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry
| Family Name: | Myrtaceae |
| Synonyms: | Acca lineata, Eugenia lineata, Myrtus lineata, Syzygium longicalyx, Syzygium longiflorum, Eugenia longiflora, Syzygium lineatum (DC.) Merr. & L.M.Perry |
| Common Name: | Common Kelat, Gelam Tikus, Ubah, Benitan Putih, Kecam, Kelat Lapis, Kelat Merah, Kelat Nasi-nasi, Kelat Paya, Kelat Putih, Sekujah, 长花蒲桃 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Broad / Mushroom / Hemispherical, Conical, Irregular |
| Maximum Height | 10 m to 22 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Southeast China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Secondary Rainforest, Riverine, Primary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Freshwater Swamp Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a small to medium-sized tree, with dense conical to hemispherical crown, typically 10m height, but can reach 22m. Its trunk can attain up to 120 cm in girth size. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Bark light pinkish to greyish brown in mature specimens, somewhat smooth. In wet ground, trunk may develop basal bunches of short stilt-roots. |
| Foliage | It has opposite stalked leaves that are thinly leathery to leathery, elliptic to lance-shaped, 5–11 cm long by 2–5 cm wide, and each has a pointed leaf tip, 2 veins running parallel to the leaf margin, and many close together side veins. |
| Flowers | It produces bisexual flowers that are 1.3–1.9 cm across, fragrant, usually white or pale green, and are found in up to 10 cm long flower clusters located at the ends of its branches, or axils of its leaves. |
| Fruit | It produces fleshy fruits that are oblong-egg-shaped, up to 1.3 cm long by 1 cm wide, opaque white, and each contains 1 seed. Each seed is oblong-egg-shaped, about 1 cm long by 0.6 cm wide. |
| Habitat | It grows in lowland forest and often by streams, peat swamp forest, and coastal forest. |
| Similar | May be confused with the shorter Syzygium zeylanicum, but the latter can be differentiated by its smaller, dark glossy green mature leaves with less crowded secondary veins and less distinct marginal vein, purplish-red young leaves, smaller white fruits (5 -7mm across), and reddish-brown peeling trunk. |
| Cultivation | Hardy plant, tolerates poor sandy and limestone soils, waterlogged areas and salt-spray. Propagate by seeds, stem cuttings or air-layering. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Syzygium' derived from Greek term 'syzygos' ('joined'), alluding to the opposite paired leaves. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves, Edible Stems Food (Herb or Spice) (Fruit or Vegetable): The young shoots can be eaten. Fragrant young shoots sometimes eaten with rice like salam (vegetable). Medicinal: Its roots and young shoots shave medicinal properties. Root decoction used as afterbirth tonic for mothers. Timber & Products: It is harvested for timber. White to yellowish-white, strong and durable but prone to splitting. Typically used for posts, rafters and pestles. Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree There is currently one individual of Syzygium lineatum listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found on Sentosa. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: Bark can be used for tanning fishing nets. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable to be planted at roadsides, and coastal areas, as it can tolerate hot, sunny, high wind, and frequent salt spray conditions. It also has fragrant, and attractive showy flowers. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Fragrant (Flowers, Foliage, Stems) (Time Independent) |
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, General, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Parks & Gardens, Coastal, Riverine |
| Thematic Landscaping | Moonlight Garden, Naturalistic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Fallen fruits may cause slipping hazards. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Fruits), Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Alkaline high pH Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Moist Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Notophyll ( 20.25cm2 - 45 cm2 ), Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks | Light Green |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Light pinkish to greyish brown |
| Mature Bark Texture | Scaly, Cracked |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Pink, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Panicle |
| Flowering Opening Time | Daytime |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | 1 Day |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red, White |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1869 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3162 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
