Syzygium

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Syzygium (Latin Syzygium) - a numerous genus of evergreen flowering plants belonging to the Myrtaceae family (lat. Myrtaceae). In its ranks there are more than a thousand plant species, many of which botanists got acquainted with not so long ago, and therefore have not yet had time to give a complete and clear description of their appearance and life preferences. At the same time, there are species with which a person made friends in very ancient times, using their gifts. Among them, a plant with the name "Clove tree" (Latin Syzygium aromaticum), which gave people a fragrant spice, cloves, received special recognition in humans.

What's in your name

Some researchers find the meaning of the Latin name of the genus "Syzygium" in the fusion of two Greek words "syn" and "zygon", meaning: "mixed together" or "combined". The reason for this name, which was given to the plant by the Irish botanist and physician Patrick Brown (Patrick Browne, 1720 - 1790), they believe, was the leaves located on the branches in opposite pairs.

Many people do not like this explanation, since such an arrangement of leaves is inherent in very many terrestrial plants, and therefore does not characterize the distinctive features of plants of the Syzygium family, being not a particularly creative name. But they also cannot find any other clear explanations.

Plant species of the genus

Among the numerous species of the genus Syzygium, most of all are evergreen shrubs and trees, stretching from Africa and the island of Madagascar through southern Asia to northeastern Australia. Some species are popular ornamental plants that adorn the landscape with their glossy leaves and fragrant flowers, while others are grown in tropical climates to use the fruits of Syzygium for food. Almost all species have healing powers.

Let's consider several types:

* Syzygium aromaticum (Latin Syzygium aromaticum) - This is the famous Clove tree, the flower buds of which are known all over the world as a spice with the name "clove". It is an evergreen fragrant shrub with traditional leathery leaves and small purple-red flowers, which are the main advantage of the plant. The flowers owe their specific aroma and burning taste to the essential oil they contain. Flowers and fruits have healing powers.

* Transparent syzygium (Latin Syzygium aqueum) - an evergreen tree that gives people edible fruits with crispy juicy sweetish pulp twice a year. Although the shape of the fruit is similar to that of a pear, the plant is sometimes called the "Water Apple". The native of South India and Malaysia has local names: "Semarang" and "Jumbo". The tree grows slowly, reaching a height of three to ten meters. The branches of the tree are covered with opposite leathery leaves. In the axils of the leaves, clusters of slightly fragrant flowers are born, the perianth of which consists of four sepals, four pale pink or yellowish white petals and long (up to two centimeters long) numerous stamens. Not only the fruits of the tree are used, but also the bark, a decoction of which is used to treat diarrhea.

* Syzygium cumin (Latin Syzygium cumini) - an evergreen tree with long (up to twenty-five centimeters) oval leaves, exuding the smell of turpentine. The tree grows quickly, reaching a maximum height of thirty meters in its life. Pink flowers with numerous long stamens characteristic of plants of the genus. The dark purple fruits, similar in appearance to plums, are distinguished by their aromatic and juicy pulp, which is edible despite the bitter astringent taste. In addition, the fruits, as well as their seeds, tree bark and leaves, have healing powers. In Asia, the tree is called "Jambolan".

* Syzygium malay (lat. Syzygium malaccense) - or Malay apple (it is also - Yambosa). Slow growing tree with leathery evergreen leaves, fairly large flowers (five to eight centimeters in diameter) with green sepals and petals that can be white, yellow, pink-purple or deep red. An indispensable element are long (up to four centimeters) numerous stamens. Edible red bell-shaped or oblong-shaped fruits have a crunchy sweetish juicy pulp. The bark and roots are used in traditional medicine.

* Syzygium paniculata (Latin Syzygium paniculatum) - a fifteen-meter evergreen tree growing in the tropics of Australia. The plant has glossy leaves, inflorescences of white flowers and fragrant red edible fruits.