Syzygium malaccense
|
Taxon |
Family |
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Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & Perry |
Myrtaceae |
 |
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| The plant in invaded habitat in Hawaii Credit: Forest & Kim Starr |
Common names: Malay rose apple, Malay apple, rose apple, mountain apple, water apple, Otaheite apple, pomerac.
Synonyms: Eugenia malaccensis L., Jambos malaccensis DC., Caryophyllus malaccensis (L.)
Life form: Small tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: In its native area, fruits are dispersed by birds and fruit bats. Poor dispersal outside native area, but pigs and some birds eat the fruit. Introduced to many different regions by humans for its fruit.
Reproduction: Plants begin flowering after 7 or 8 years, and flower up to 3 times per year. Fruit is red and 5-10 cm long, containing 1 or 2 light brown seeds about 2 cm long.
Herbivores: Rose beetles and fruit flies.
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: Lowland to montane rainforest
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Mesic to wet areas, dense and open forests, thickets, plantations.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | Below 1200 metres above sea level, but usually near sea level. |
| Light | Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. |
| Temperature | Intolerant of frost. |
| Annual rainfall | Over 1500 mm. Intolerant of drought. |
| Soil | Intolerant of drought or waterlogging. Prefers soil pH of 6.1 to 7.4. Humid conditions. |
Distribution:
Native to Malaysia and possibly India and Indonesia
Introduced range: Invasive on many Pacific Islands, including Fiji, Hawaii, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands and Solomon Islands. Introduced but not considered invasive in south and southeast Asia, East Africa, Central and South America and other Pacific Islands.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: No information available.
Health, social and economic: Fruits drop quickly after ripening, attracting fruit flies and rats, which can be a problem in urban areas.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Morton, J.,1987. Malay Apple. Fruits of warm climates pp.378-381. Available from http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/malay_apple.html (Accessed August 2006).
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2005. Available from http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/syzygium_malaccense.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Whistler, W.A. and Elevitch, C.R., 2006. Syzygium malaccense (Malay apple). Species Profiles for Pacific Island Agroforestry, Permanent Agriculture Resources. Available from http://www.agroforestry.net/tti/Syzygium-Malayapple.pdf (Accessed August 2006).
Last updated October 2006
