Syzygium samarangense
| Syzygium samarangense | |
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| Species: | S. samarangense
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| Binomial name | |
| Syzygium samarangense | |
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Syzygium samarangense is a plant species in the family Myrtaceae, native to an area that includes the Greater Sunda Islands, Malay Peninsula and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but introduced in prehistoric times to a wider area[2] and now widely cultivated in the tropics.
Common names in English include Java apple, Semarang rose-apple and wax jambu.[3]
Cultivation and uses
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
|---|---|
| Energy | 105 kJ (25 kcal) |
5.70 g | |
0.30 g | |
0.60 g | |
| Vitamins | Quantity %DV† |
| Thiamine (B1) | 2% 0.020 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 2% 0.030 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 5% 0.800 mg |
| Vitamin C | 25% 22.3 mg |
| Minerals | Quantity %DV† |
| Calcium | 2% 29 mg |
| Iron | 0% 0.07 mg |
| Magnesium | 1% 5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 1% 8 mg |
| Potassium | 4% 123 mg |
| Sodium | 0% 0 mg |
| Zinc | 1% 0.06 mg |
| Other constituents | Quantity |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| †Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults,[4] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies.[5] | |
Syzygium samarangense is a tropical tree growing to 12 m tall, with evergreen leaves 10–25 cm long and 5–10 cm broad. The flowers are white, 2.5 cm diameter, with four petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is a bell-shaped, edible berry, with colors ranging from white, pale green, or green to red, purple, or crimson, to deep purple or even black, 4–6 cm long in wild plants. The flowers and resulting fruit are not limited to the axils of the leaves, and can appear on nearly any point on the surface of the trunk and branches. When mature, the tree is considered a heavy bearer, yielding a crop of up to 700 fruits.[2]
When ripe, the fruit will puff outwards, with a slight concavity in the middle of the underside of the "bell". Healthy wax apples have a light sheen to them. Despite its name, a ripe wax apple only resembles an apple on the outside in color. It does not taste like an apple, and it has neither the fragrance nor the density of an apple. Its flavor is similar to a snow pear, and the liquid-to-flesh ratio of the wax apple is comparable to a watermelon. Unlike either apple or watermelon, the wax apple's flesh has a very loose weave. The very middle holds a seed situated in a sort of cotton-candy-like mesh. This mesh is edible, but flavorless. The color of its juice depends on the cultivar; it may be purple to entirely colorless.
A number of cultivars with larger fruit have been selected. In general, the paler or darker the color, the sweeter it is.[clarification needed] In Southeast Asia, the black ones are nicknamed "Black Pearl" or "Black Diamond", while the very pale greenish-white ones, called "Pearl", are among the highest priced ones in fruit markets. The fruit is often served uncut, but with the core removed, to preserve the unique bell-shaped presentation. In Malay peninsula it is also used as bonsai plant as it grows well in pots and has thick trunk.
In the cuisine of Indian Ocean islands, the fruit is frequently used in salads, as well as in lightly sautéed dishes.
In India, water apples are found in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh near the dry land areas of Rajanagaram mandal (mainly around G.Donthamuru village surroundings). In Telugu, these are called kammari kayalu (కమ్మరి కాయలు). It is also found throughout Kerala where it is called as Champakka or Chambakka. It is mainly eaten as a fruit and also used to make pickles (Chambakka Achar).
In Taiwan, it is known as 蓮霧 (Lián wù).
In the Philippines, its local name is macopa.[2] Because of their similarity in appearance, Filipinos always confuse macopa with tambis (Syzygium aqueum),[6] although the latter is more commonly cultivated.
Medicinal uses
The flowers are astringent and used in Taiwan to treat fever and halt diarrhea. Investigators have found their principal constituent to be tannin. They also contain desmethoxymatteucinol, 5-O-methyl-4'-desmethoxymatteucinol, oleanic acid and B-sitosterol. They show weak antibiotic action against Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and Candida albicans.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 March 2016 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ a b c Julia F. Morton (1987). "Java apple". Fruits of Warm Climates. Miami, FL: Florida Flair Books. pp. 381–382. ISBN 978-0-9610184-1-2.
- ^ "Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ^ United States Food and Drug Administration (2024). "Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels". Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division; Food and Nutrition Board; Committee to Review the Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium (2019). Oria, Maria; Harrison, Meghan; Stallings, Virginia A. (eds.). Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. The National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of Health. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US). ISBN 978-0-309-48834-1. PMID 30844154.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Janick, Jules; Paull, Robert (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruits and Nuts. CABI. pp. 552, 553.
- ^ Peter, Tina; Padmavathi, D (28 October 2011). "Syzygium Samarangense: A Review On Morphology, Phytochemistry & Pharmacological Aspects" (PDF). Asian Journal of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Research. 1 (4): 155. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
External links
Media related to Syzygium samarangense at Wikimedia Commons
