Common Name:

General Information

Syzygium suborbiculare is an evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading, rounded crown; it usually grows 8 - 12 metres tall. The bole can occasionally be up to 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild and used locally for food and medicine. It is a popular food in northern Australia[]. The tree is sometimes planted in order to provide shade and shelter[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern Australia - Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, to New Guinea.

Habitat

Creeks and in gullies in dissected sandstone plateaux, favouring sand dunes and old sandridges in coastal areas, from sea level to 220 metres[]. Usually grows in open forest but also occurs in or on the margins of rain forest and in beach forest[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 220 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 38°c, but can tolerate 12 - 44°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 600 - 1,800mm[].
Prefers a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Prefers a light, well-drained soil, tolerating low fertility[]. Tolerates salt-laden winds[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[]. Established plants are fairly drought tolerant, though lose most of their leaves[, ].
Plants can tolerate fire because they produce a lignotuber under the ground from which they can regrow[].
Plants can produce fruit during any month but they tend to fruit mainly during the wet season. The quality of the fruit varies between trees[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , ]. A crunchy texture with a sharp flavour[]. It can be used in cooking, or for sauces and relishes[]. The deep red, strongly ribbed fruit is up to 8 - 10cm in diameter, containing a single large seed up to 5cm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

An infusion of the bark and roots can be used as a treatment for stomach pains[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree can provide shade and shelter[].

Other Uses

Of no commercial value as a timber, the wood can be used as fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability and needs to be sown when fresh. It germinates well and grows quickly[].

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