Malay rose apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Malay-apple
• Otaheite-apple
• mountain-apple
• pink satin-ash
• pomerac
• rose-apple
• Mountain Apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Myrtus malaccensis
• Jambosa purpurascens
• Eugenia pseudomalaccensis
• Eugenia purpurascens
• Eugenia purpurea
• Eugenia macrophylla
• Eugenia domestica
• Jambosa domestica
• Caryophyllus malaccensis
• Myrtus lamarckii
• Jambosa malaccensis
• Syzygium laeve
• Jambosa macrophylla
• Jambosa laevis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Myrtales, it is classified under the family Myrtaceae and is specifically identified by the genus Syzygium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct tropical and subtropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found within the Central African Republic. Its presence extends to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically inhabiting the Comoros islands. Moving across Asia, the species is located in South-Central China and throughout Taiwan in Eastern Asia. Finally, its range reaches the Indian Subcontinent, where it grows in the Assam region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Syzygium malaccense is characterized by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1200 m AMSL. It typically thrives within specific ecological niches, most notably in dense secondary shrub layers and rudeeral vegetation. This preference for secondary growth and ruderal environments suggests a capacity to colonize disturbed areas or transitional zones where vegetation is regenerating, allowing it to persist in diverse landscapes across its elevational span.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Genetics

The genetics of Syzygium malaccense are characterized by a specific karyological configuration, featuring a chromosome number of 22. This species maintains a diploid state, as indicated by a ploidy level of 2, which serves as the foundational genetic basis for its cellular reproduction and hereditary transmission.

Chromosome number :

22

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Syzygium malaccense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to maintain its presence in its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, it possesses significant woody structures that elevate its photosynthetic organs above the ground, while its specific growth habit can also be classified as a nanophanerophyte. This species maintains a consistent foliage profile through an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its leaves throughout the year rather than shedding them seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Syzygium malaccense is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, specifically developing as a self-supporting tree. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, functioning instead as an independent organism without parasitic requirements. The plant achieves significant vertical stature, with a height range spanning from a minimum of 8 meters to a maximum of 25 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 15 meters. Its structural integrity is defined by its woody nature, allowing it to stand as a stable, self-supporting tree rather than a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

25 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Syzygium malaccense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant exhibits specific morphological dimensions in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 14 cm to a mean of 20 cm, reaching a maximum of 38 cm. The width of these leaves varies from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 20 cm. In terms of water storage and structural adaptation, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density rather than specialized water-storing cells. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-available nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

38 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

14 cm

Leaf width max:

20 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Syzygium malaccense is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by insects and specifically involving bees. The plant produces flowers that are typically red in color, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a berry-type fruit that is indehiscent. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 4 cm and a range spanning from 4 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. Within each fruit, there are typically between 1 and 10 seeds. The seeds themselves are relatively large and substantial, with a mean mass of approximately 3.027825 g, though they can range from a minimum of 1.29375 g to a maximum of 4.7619 g. In terms of dimensions, the seeds possess a minimum length and width of 15 mm, with a maximum length reaching up to 100 mm and a maximum width of 20 mm. Dispersal of the species is noted to be anthropochorous, occurring through human intervention.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

1.5 cm

Flower length min:

1 cm

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

4 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

100 mm

Seed length min:

15 mm

Seed mass max:

4.7619 g

Seed mass mean:

3.027825 g

Seed mass min:

1.29375 g

Seed width max:

20 mm

Seed width min:

15 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

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

Fruit

1. PeerJ

Leaf

1. Life (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Syzygium malaccense has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, CALCIUM, FAT, Flavonoid, IRON.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. PeerJ

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

POTASSIUM

1. Dr. Duke

SODIUM

1. Dr. Duke

Xanthine oxidase

1. Puerto Rico health sciences journal

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Syzygium malaccense has 210 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Syzygium malaccense has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cystitis, infectious diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations