Common Name: Sea Apple

General Information

Sea apple is a large, evergreen tree, growing up to 45 metres tall. The bole can be up to 75cm in diameter[, ].
The edible fruit is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use, and the wood is also used locally. The tree is sometimes planted to provide shade[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Habitat

Deep, humid soils near the coast[]. An upper canopy tree in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, keranga and swamp forests at elevations up to 900 metres. Often on alluvial sites near or along rivers and streams, but also on hillsides and ridges[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rather fast-growing[].
The tree usually flowers twice a year and the flowers attract large numbers of bees[].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. Dry but edible[]. The fruit is about 4cm long, with a green, leathery rind[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is greyish-brown, sometimes with a yellowish tinge. It is relatively heavy, durable, moderately hard. A good structural timber, it is used for building purposes, boat and house construction[, ].
We do not have any more specific information for the wood of this species, but the various species of Syzygium tend to have somewhat similar timber. The general description of syzygium timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is a golden brown, greyish brown or brown, with pink or purplish glints; it is not clearly demarcated from the 1 - 4cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain slightly interlocked, sometimes wavy or irregular; there are resin deposits. The wood is heavy; moderately hard; somewhat durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and termites, but susceptible to dry wood borers. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with ordinary tools, nailing and screwing are good so long as the wood is pre-bored; gluing is correct. The wood is used for musical instruments, tool handles, furniture components, ship building, heavy carpentry, flooring, joinery etc[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.

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