Syzygium oleosum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Syzygium
Species:
S. oleosum
Binomial name
Syzygium oleosum
Synonyms[1]
List
    • Eugenia coolminiana C.Moore
    • Eugenia cyanocarpa (F.Muell.) Maiden & Betche
    • Eugenia oleosa F.Muell.
    • Syzygium coolminianum (C.Moore) L.A.S.Johnson

Syzygium oleosum, common names include blue lilly pilly, Scented satinash, and blue cherry.[2] It is a species of Syzygium tree native to the eastern Australian rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests.

Description

It is usually a small tree, 4 to 15 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple and lanceolate to ovate, with a dark glossy upper surface and paler under-surface. The leaves have oil dots and are distinctly aromatic when crushed, with aromas reminiscent of lemons.[3] Its flowers are small and white-cream colored. It produces a purplish red fruit when young, changing to purplish blue when ripe, 13–40 mm in diameter.[4]

Distribution

A wide distribution range on the east side of Australia. From Cooktown, North Queensland to the Illawarra, New South Wales.[5]

Uses

The blue fruit can be eaten freshly picked from the tree or cooked. It has a pleasantly crisp texture and is mildly aromatic and sweet. The fruit can also be made into jams, jellies and wine. It is also grown as an ornamental plant.

Blue cherry at Barrenjoey
panicle from Cabarita Beach

References

  1. ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Low, Tim (1991). Wild food plants of Australia. Sydney, NSW: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 77. ISBN 0-207-16930-6.
  3. ↑ Low, Tim (1991). Wild food plants of Australia. Sydney, NSW: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 77. ISBN 0-207-16930-6.
  4. ↑ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, ISBN 0-909605-57-2
  5. ↑ "Australian Native Plants Society (Australia)".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.