water-pear

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• water-pear
• white umdoni
• Bushveld Waterberry
• Waterberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eugenia guineensis
• Calyptranthes guineensis
• Eugenia fourcadei
• Memecylon lopezianum
• Syzygium fourcadei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, it is placed in the genus Syzygium, specifically identified as the species Syzygium guineense.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing within the borders of Benin. The species is also documented in the country of Burkina. Additionally, its geographical range extends into Gambia and Ghana. Finally, this medicinal plant is also located within Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Syzygium guineense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain a long-term presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its vital organs and growing points are elevated well above the ground on woody stems, a structural trait that defines its life form. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which supports continuous physiological activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Syzygium guineense is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent organism, existing as a terrestrial species that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant demonstrates significant height variability, with recorded dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of approximately 15.24 m, yielding a mean plant height of approximately 16.67 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15.24018532 m

Plant height mean:

16.6666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Syzygium guineense is characterized by a standard C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy among woody tropical species that involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide via the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle. In terms of nutrient acquisition, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrates or ammonium from the soil through its root system rather than establishing symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Syzygium guineense is characterized by a biotic pollination strategy, primarily driven by insect vectors, with specific interactions involving bees. The plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits classified as berries, which typically exhibit a mean length of 2.5 cm and a mean width of 2.5 cm. These fruits facilitate zoochorous dispersal, relying on animals to distribute the seeds. The seeds themselves are relatively substantial, maintaining a consistent mass of approximately 2.222 g (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at this level) and a uniform seed volume of 620 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

2.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

2.222 g

Seed volume max:

620 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Syzygium guineense has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
4. Journal of complementary & integrative medicine

Root

1. Analytical science advances

Chemicals

Syzygium guineense has 19 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins, Terpenoids, Casuarictin, Casuarinin.

Flavonoids

1. Analytical science advances
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Tannins

1. Analytical science advances
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Terpenoids

1. Analytical science advances
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Casuarictin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Casuarinin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Gallocatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Glycosides

1. Analytical science advances

MYRICETIN 3-O-GLUCOSIDE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Myricetin 3-O-glucuronide

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Syzygium guineense has 8 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antihypertensive, Antimalarial.

Antibacterial

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antihypertensive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimalarial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. BMC complementary medicine and therapies

Antiulcer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Toxic

1. Journal of parasitology research

Medicinal Uses

Syzygium guineense has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, diarrhea, asthma, cough, coughs.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations