Syzygium oleosum

Syzygium oleosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Syzygium
Species: S. oleosum
Binomial name
Syzygium oleosum
(F.Muell.) B.Hyland
Synonyms[1]

Syzygium oleosum, commonly known as the Blue Lilly Pilly, is a species of Syzygium tree native to eastern Australian rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests. It is usually a small tree, 4 to 15 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple and lanceolate to ovate, with a dark glossy upper surface and paler under-surface. The leaves have oil dots and are distinctly aromatic when crushed, with aromas reminiscent of mango or apricot. Its flowers are small and white-cream colored. It produces a purplish red fruit when young, changing to purplish blue when ripe, 13–40 mm in diameter.[2]

The fruit can be eaten freshly picked from the tree or cooked. It has a pleasantly crisp texture and is mildly aromatic and sweet. The fruit can also be made into jams, jellies and wine. It is also grown as an ornamental plant.

Blue Cherry at Barrenjoey
panicle from Cabarita Beach

References

  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  2. Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, ISBN 0-909605-57-2

External links


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 18, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.