Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Myrtaceae, F. White. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit

Evergreen tree 6–15 m. tall.

Morphology General Bark

Bark rough, dark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina up to 13 x 5 cm., elliptic or oblanceolate-elliptic, apex subacuminate or shortly acuminate, base cuneate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence a lateral, lax panicle, mostly borne in the axils of fallen leaves on older stems, very rarely also axillary or terminal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Receptacle

Receptacle (including pseudopedicel) + calyx c. 0·5 cm. long; calyx + upper receptacle 0·2 cm. long; filaments 0·5–0·6 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit up to 2·4 x 2 cm., ellipsoid or subglobose.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean, Caribbean. Elevation range: 150–2430 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Cesar, Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Tree.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Aceituno dulce

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 150 - 2430 m.; Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Valle del Cauca.

Morphology General Habit

Árbol

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

aceituno, aceituno dulce, jambolán, pomarroso, uva, uvito, yambolán

Myrtaceae, B. Verdcourt, B.Sc., Ph.D. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Glabrous evergreen tree or large shrub, 6–25 m tall with spreading crown; outer bark pale yellow brown, white or grey, densely thinly flaky (described as rough or smooth); inner bark rough, thick and fibrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shiny, mostly very regularly oblong-elliptic but can be elliptic, oblanceolate-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 6–17(–20) cm long, 2.5–8.5 cm wide, acuminate to a rounded tip which is often down-curved, cuneate at the base; ± coriaceous; main lateral nerves numerous and close, ± 40; petiole 0.8–2 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes terminal and axillary, or mostly lateral borne in the axils of fallen leaves on older stems, about 10 cm long; flowers drying pale orange-brown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx often drying orange-brown, obconic, 4–5 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, very obscurely 4(–5)-lobed, practically truncate, rim orange.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, elliptic, 4 mm long, 3 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens white, 4–6 mm long with very slender filaments.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 5–6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits dark purple-red, broadly ellipsoid, oblong or subglobose, often somewhat curved, 2.4–3.5(–5) cm long, 2 cm wide (2x1 cm dry), crowned by 2 mm diameter calyx-rim, 1-seeded (rarely 2–5-seeded or seedless in some varieties); pulp white, acid.

Habitat

Native plots, plantation edges, seashore and coastal bush and savanas on coral rock, more or less naturalised in some coastal areas; 0–1650 m

Distribution

K4 K7 P T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 U4 Z India, Sri Lanka to S China, Malesia and Pacificcultivated throughout tropics and often naturalised