Common Name:

General Information

Syzygium polycephalum is a small to medium-sized tree, growing 8 - 20 metres tall[].
The edible fruits and young shoots are gathered from the wild for local use, whilst the plant is frequently cultivated in home gardens in Java as a fruit-tree[, ]. The plant has been recommended as having the potential, with selective breeding, to become a fruit crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia.

Habitat

Secondary forests at elevations between 200 - 1,800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Edible Uses

Ripe fruits - raw or cooked[, ]. An agreeable sour taste[, ]. They are used to make a highly esteemed jelly[].

Young leaves and sprouts - cooked and used as a vegetable[, , ]. The young, violet-coloured leaves and shoots can be eaten raw with rice[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is used for 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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