2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Syzygium pondoense (Latin Syzygium pondoense) - a rare species of woody plants of the genus Syzygium (Latin Syzygium) of the Myrtaceae family (Latin Myrtaceae). This small attractive tree with a difficult to pronounce name and great horticultural potential is very rare in nature, being endemic to the southeast African coast, where it grows along the banks of rocky streams. They have leathery simple leaves, typical for plants of the genus Syzygium, arranged in pairs on the stem, and inconspicuous flowers with numerous "airy" stamens. The plant, like many of its brothers in the genus, has healing powers.
What's in your name
If the Latin name of the genus "Syzygium", from which the name of this tree begins, is associated with the paired arrangement of leaves and branches on plants of the genus, then the specific epithet "pondoense" refers to the place of origin of the plant, which was known as "Pondoland".
Pondoland was located on the South African coast of the Indian Ocean, where African aborigines lived, called Pondo, and therefore their kingdom bore the same name - Pondo. The Europeans who arrived in Africa changed the life of the aborigines by changing the name of the area. But today the word "Pondo" can be heard more and more often in different names. For example, the "Pondoland Plant Center Endemism", which is distinguished by the biodiversity of plants and living things.
Description
Syzygium Pondoland in the wild can be a shrub or small tree (up to three meters high), which are not often found on the planet. The single trunk of a low plant cannot boast of a thickness, gaining in diameter up to fifteen centimeters. The young bark, which protects the vessels of the tree from external enemies, is reddish-brown in color. As the plant matures, the bark acquires a gray color.
Leathery leaves, located in opposite friendly pairs at right angles to the stem, at the time of birth have a reddish tint, like the new shoots themselves. But, in the future, the shiny surface of the leaves becomes dark green on top and slightly paler on the lower side of the leaf plate. The width of the leaves varies from three to ten millimeters. The relatively long leaf blade is divided into two parts by a pronounced central vein, clearly visible from both sides of the leaf. Numerous thin lateral veins radiate from it, often having a reddish tint.
At the beginning of summer, spectacular capitate inflorescences are born in the leaf axils, consisting of small inconspicuous white flowers with numerous stamens, turning the inflorescence into a light white cloud.
The plant marks the beginning of autumn with rounded fruits with a diameter of about one and a half centimeters, painted in red or purple. The apex of the fetus is marked with a non-falling calyx.
Use and healing abilities
In the old days, wax was made from boiled fruits of the tree.
The plant buds contain a substance called "eugeniin", which has antiviral activity, including activity against the virus of a fairly common disease, "herpes simplex" or "blister lichen", which has annoyed people since ancient times.
Infusions and tinctures from tree bark have the ability to relieve pain and cold coughs.
The decorativeness of the plant and its unpretentiousness to living conditions attracts garden designers who recommend Syzygium pondoense for decorating rocky gardens in areas with a warm climate. For active plant growth, two conditions are important: a sunny place and water supply.
The plant is decorative not only at the time of flowering and fruiting, but also at the time of birth of its colorful new leaves with reddish lateral veins on the leaf plate. Varieties with hanging weeping branches will decorate any body of water.
Due to its compact size, the plant is suitable for planting in flower containers, which allows you to grow the shrub at home in temperate climates. The plant is propagated by sowing freshly harvested seeds, or by cuttings. Both methods are done in the fall.
Recommended:
Syzygium
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.
Syzygium Paniculata
Syzygium paniculata It is also known under the name Eugenia myrtolistnaya and Eugenia paniculata, in Latin the name of this plant sounds like this: Syzigium paniculatum or Eugenia myrtifolia. Description of syzygium paniculata For the favorable development of this plant, it will be necessary to provide it with a solar light regime or partial shade.
Syzygium Fragrant, Or Clove Tree
Aromatic syzygium, or Clove tree (lat.Syzygium aromaticum) - an evergreen tree, a representative of the genus Sizigium (Latin Syzygium) of the Myrtaceae family (Latin Myrtaceae). Born in the tropics of South Asia, the plant is distinguished by leathery leaves, on the glossy surface of which jets of tropical showers easily roll down without injuring the leaf plate.
Syzygium Malay
Syzygium malay (lat.Syzygium malaccense) - a kind of slowly growing tree creatures of the genus Syzygium (lat. Syzygium), ranked by botanists as belonging to the Myrtaceae family (lat. Myrtaceae). The tree has many virtues. It is decorative, gives edible fruits, has healing powers.
Syzygium Transparent, Or Water Apple
Transparent syzygium, or Water apple (lat.Syzygium aqueum) - an evergreen tree with edible fruits, a representative of the genus Syzygium (Latin Syzygium) of the Myrtaceae family (Latin Myrtaceae). The appearance of the tree is very similar to its other counterparts in the genus, with oblong-elliptical leathery tropical leaves, oppositely located on the branches.
