Common Name: Jambos

General Information

Jambos is an evergreen tree with a regular shaped, dense crown of wide-spreading branches, it can grow 6 - 10 metres tall[, , ]. The bole can be 50cm in diameter, often branching from low down[].
A multipurpose tree that has been cultivated for around 2,500 years. It provides food, medicines and a range of commodities for the local population. An attractive tree with showy cream-coloured flowers and dark-green foliage, it is often grown as an ornamental and hedge plant in tropical gardens[, , ]. It is also sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit[, ].

Known Hazards

The seeds are said to be poisonous[].
An unknown amount of hydrocyanic acid has been reported in the roots, stems and leaves[].
An alkaloid, jambosine, has been found in the bark of the tree and of the roots, and the roots are considered poisonous[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia.

Habitat

Open places, generally around villages, at elevations of 600 - 1,400 metres in Nepal[]. Most commonly found in moister habitats such as stream banks, becoming more frequent at higher elevations as rainfall levels rise[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Bees, Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Flourishes in tropical and near-tropical climates only, usually below elevations of 1,200 metres but up to 2,300 metres in Ecuador[]. It succeeds in dry areas, but fruits best in more humid regions[]. At its climatic limits, as in California, the tree grows vigorously but will not bear fruit[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 38°c, but can tolerate 5 - 40°c[]. The mature plant can tolerate occasional temperatures down to about -3°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,000mm[]. It dislikes dry seasons unless growing in soils with adequate moisture levels[].
Succeeds in any reasonable soil in full sun or part day shade[]. Young plants require some shade and a moist environment[]. Tolerates poor, sandy and alkaline soils[], but grows slowly and reproduces poorly[]. Often found in poorly drained soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8[]. The tree is said to tolerate wind and salt[].
The trees have naturalized themselves thoroughly in the wetter parts of Guatemala[].
Natural regenerarion from seed on suitable sites is generally abundant and will proceed under almost any condition[].
Young plants have a slow rate of growth, speeding up as they grow older[, , ]. Two year old plants are around 80cm tall, up to 3 metres by the age of 7 and to 4.5 metres at the age of 10 years[].
Trees coppice very vigorously[]. A plant can produce dense stands of sprouts up to 3.6 metres tall just 12 months after being cut back to ground level[].
Fruiting can be expected within 4 years, especially from layered plants[, ]. In some areas it blooms and fruits sporadically nearly all the year round, whilst in other areas it has a clear fruiting season[].
Trees in the open usually fruit abundantly, but fruiting reduces as the shade increases[].
In India, a mature rose apple tree is said to yield 2 kg of fruit each season. The fruits are, of course, very light in weight because they are hollow, but this is a very small return for a tree that occupies so much space[].
Trees coppice very vigorously[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - usually eaten raw, the fruit can also be stewed, made into jams, jellies, confections etc[, ]. A sweet flavour with a crisp and crunchy texture, the fruit is somewhat to very juicy and has a delicate, rose-water fragrance[, , ]. When cooked with custards or puddings, they impart a rose-like flavour[]. The large, hollow seed cavity is sometimes utilized to stuff the fruits and bake them [].The fruit has to be handled very carefully after harvesting because it bruises easily and then loses its crispness[]. The fruit is up to 4cm x 6cm[].
Around the tropical world, the fruit is mostly eaten out-of-hand by children. It is seldom marketed. In the home, it is sometimes stewed with some sugar and served as dessert[].
The fruit can be distilled to yield a rosewater that is said to be equal to the best obtained from rose petals[].

Flowers - candied[].

Medicinal

Several parts of the tree are used medicinally as a tonic or a diuretic[].

In India, the fruit is regarded as a tonic for the brain and liver. An infusion of the fruit acts as a diuretic[].

A sweetened preparation of the flowers is believed to reduce fever[]..

The seeds are employed against diarrhoea, dysentery and catarrh[]. In Nicaragua, it has been claimed that an infusion of roasted, powdered seeds is beneficial to diabetics. They say in Colombia that the seeds have an anaesthetic property[].

The leaf decoction is applied to sore eyes, also serves as a diuretic and expectorant and treatment for rheumatism[]. The juice of macerated leaves is taken as a febrifuge[]. Powdered leaves have been rubbed on the bodies of smallpox patients for the cooling effect[].

The bark contains 7-12.4% tannin. It is astringent, emetic and cathartic[, ]. The decoction is administered to relieve asthma, bronchitis and hoarseness[].

Cuban people believe that the root is an effective remedy for epilepsy[].

Agroforestry Uses:

If the young plants are pruned severely, they become very dense and form an effective if not particularly handsome
wind-break hedge[, ].
Plants develop massive root systems and can be useful for stabilizing soils on river banks[]. However, the dense top growth can stop any plant growth underneath, and this has sometimes led to sheet erosion unless the crown is thinned[].
Bees produce a heavy, consistent flow of amber honey from the flowers[].

Other Uses

A yellow coloured essential oil, important in the perfume industry, is derived from the leaves by distillation[]. It contains, among other properties, 26.84% dl-a-pinene and 23.84% l-limonene, and can be resorted to as a source of these elements for use in the perfume industry[].

The bark contains 7% tannin on a dry weight basis and is used by local villagers for tanning and dyeing purposes[].
The bark also yields a brown dye[].

The flexible branches split easily. They are valued for making wattle, hoops for large sugar casks, and also are valued for weaving large baskets[, ].

The heartwood is dark-red or brown; the sapwood is white. The wood is straight and close-grained, medium-heavy to heavy, strong. It is not durable in the ground and is prone to attack by dry wood termites[, ]. It is usually too small for many purposes, but is commonly used for fenceposts, plant stakes etc, and larger pieces can be used to make furniture, spokes for wheels, arms for easy chairs, knees for all kinds of boats, beams for construction, frames for musical instruments (violins, guitars, etc.), and packing cases. It is also popular for general turnery[, ].
The wood makes an excellent fuel and charcoal[303,790].

Propagation

Seed - the seeds have a very short viability and no dormancy; they usually germinate well within 10 - 120 days if sown fresh[, , ]. Surface sow the seed in a shady position, firming it gently into the soil, and water well but be careful not to wash the seed away[]. A single seed often gives rise to 3 - 8 seedlings and most of them are true to type[]. Young plants transplant badly, so should be potted up into individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and before the roots have grown much[]. Young plants need some shade[].
Air layering.

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