wax apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Java-apple
• Semarang rose-apple
• wax jambu
• wax-apple
• Wax Apple

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eugenia samarangensis
• Jambosa samarangensis
• Myrtus obtusissima
• Myrtus samarangensis
• Jambosa timorensis
• Eugenia mindanaensis
• Eugenia suzukii
• Eugenia alba
• Eugenia javanica var. roxburghiana
• Jambosa samarangensis var. obtusissima
• Jambosa suzukii
• Jambosa samarangensis var. microcarpa
• Jambosa obtusissima
• Syzygium samarangense var. parviflorum
• Jambosa timorensis var. laxiflora
• Jambosa ambigua
• Jambosa alba
• Eugenia javanica var. parviflora

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 and the family Myrtaceae, it is classified under the genus Syzygium. Specifically, its taxonomic identity is defined as Syzygium samarangense.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution spanning across different regions of the world. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found growing in the Chagos Archipelago, Mauritius, and Réunion. It is also naturally occurring in the Seychelles, further establishing its presence in the island ecosystems of that ocean. Beyond the Indian Ocean, its range extends to the continent of Asia. Specifically, the species is documented to inhabit the South-Central region of China.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Syzygium samarangense is defined by its adaptability across diverse topographical gradients, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. It typically thrives in tropical forest ecosystems, where it occupies various niches within the canopy or sub-canopy layers depending on local light availability and soil moisture. Its distribution is closely tied to humid environments, often favoring areas with consistent rainfall and well-drained, nutrient-rich soils characteristic of lowland and montane transition zones. The plant's ability to span this wide elevational range suggests a resilience to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures, allowing it to persist from coastal lowlands to mid-elevation forest habitats.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Syzygium samarangense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage throughout the year to support continuous physiological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Syzygium samarangense is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a self-supporting tree. This species is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 15 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 12 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

12 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Syzygium samarangense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and energy conversion efficiency. The leaf morphology shows significant variation, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 22 cm, maintaining a mean length of 16 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 8 cm, resulting in a mean width of 6.5 cm. The plant does not exhibit succulence, indicating a standard leaf structure rather than specialized water-storage tissues, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on soil nitrogen availability rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

22 cm

Leaf length mean:

16 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Syzygium samarangense is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the pollination process. The plant produces inflorescences that are relatively small, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.06 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that vary in size, typically maintaining a mean length of 4.5 cm, with individual fruit lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. The dispersal of these fruits is achieved through an endozoochorous syndrome, where seeds are distributed via the digestive tracts of animals that consume the fruit.

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length mean:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.06 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.05 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Syzygium samarangense has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Chemicals

Syzygium samarangense has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,8-Cineole, Flavonoids, Galacturonic acid, MYRCENE, Myristicin.

1,8-Cineole

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Flavonoids

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

Galacturonic acid

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

MYRCENE

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Myristicin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Polysaccharide

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

Volatile oil

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

WAP

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

arabinose

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

fucose

1. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

Activities

Syzygium samarangense has 5 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antiaging, Antihyperglycemic, Antiproliferative, Cytotoxic.

Antimicrobial

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiaging

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antihyperglycemic

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Antiproliferative

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Cytotoxic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Syzygium samarangense has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Salmonella typhimurium, amylase, cold, enteric bacteria, neuroprotective effects.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations