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Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp.

Family Name:	Myrtaceae
Synonyms:	Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob., Eugenia holmanii Elmer, Eugenia junghuhniana Miq., Eugenia lambii Elmer, Eugenia lucidula Miq., Eugenia microbotrya Miq., Eugenia nitida Duthie, Eugenia pamatensis Miq., Eugenia polyantha Wight, Eugenia polyantha M.R.Hend. var. sessilis, Eugenia resinosa Gagnep., Myrtus cymosa Blume, Syzygium cymosum Korth., Syzygium micranthum Blume ex Miq., Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam., Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam., Syzygium polyanthum (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner var. sessile
Common Name:	Indonesian Bayleaf, Salam, Samak, Indian Bayleaf, Buah Salam, Kelat Samak, Serah, 多花番樱桃, 沙冷果树

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Herb or Spice

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Irregular, Oval, Columnar
Maximum Height	36 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	2 m to 6 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree that can grow up to 30 m tall, attain 180 cm in girth size, and with cylindrical or oval tree crown, greyish brown twigs, and grey flaky bark.
Crown	It has a cylindrical to oval crown.
Trunk	The bark is grey and flaky.

Foliage	It has opposite, stalked leaves that are thinly leathery, elliptic or lance-shaped, 5–16 cm long by 2.2–7 cm wide, and each has a pointed leaf tip, 1 vein running parallel to the leaf margin, and 6–11 pairs of side veins.
Flowers	It produces bisexual flowers that are creamy white, turning pink or reddish, faintly fragrant, about 0.8–1.3 cm, and found in up to 10 cm long, flower clusters located at ends of its branches, or axils of its leaves.
Fruit	It produces fleshy fruits that are round to flattened round, 0.4–1.2 cm across, red to purplish black when ripe, and each contains 1 seed.
Others - Plant Morphology	Closely spaced individuals planted in a row may be shaped into a bright green hedge or screen. This species is easy-to-grow and requires little maintenance.
Associated Fauna	The fruits are consumed by various types of birds, such as the Jambu Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus jambu) and Cream-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus simplex).
Cultivation	It can be propagated by cuttings, air-layering and seed. The seeds lose viability within 4 - 6 weeks. To propagate by seed, place fresh fruits on top of the soil in a shady location. Germination will occur from 1 - 12 weeks later.
Etymology	Greek syzygos, joined, referring to the paired leaves of this species; Greek polyanthum, many-flowered, referring to the numerous flowers it produces
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits, Edible Leaves Food (Herb and Spice): The young leaves are a commonly used spice in Southeast Asian cuisine that is particularly popular in Indonesia. It has a slightly sour taste. Fresh or dried leaves are added to meat, vegetable and rice dishes, such as curries and stews. (Fruit & Vegetable): The fruits are edible. Medicinal: In Malaysia, a poultice prepared from leaves, roots and bark is applied to the skin to provide anti-itch relief. In Indonesia, leaf infusions and bark extracts are used to treat diarrhoea. Timber & Products: The wood of this species is moderately hard to hard. Its color varies from pale to pinkish brown. The wood is used to make furniture, as well as building material for home construction. Others: In the Dutch Indies, a bark infusion was once used to tan fishing nets and dye bamboo mats. The tree is sometimes planted in the understory of tree plantations to inhibit growth of weeds. The leaves are good mulching material, because they decompose slowly.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It suitable as a roadside tree, fast growing, and with attractive tree crown and flowers. Its fruits can also attract birds.
Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers, Foliage) (Day), Ornamental Fruits
Landscape Uses	Roadside Tree / Palm, General, Hedge / Screening, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Reforestation

Thematic Landscaping

Economic Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird Attracting (Fruits), Butterfly Food Plant (Flower Nectar)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Fast to Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Easy to Grow, Moist Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Low
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting, Air-Layering
Planting Distance	2 m to 3 m

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny, Leathery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Leathery
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Lanceolate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Acute
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Bark Colour(s)	Grey
Mature Bark Texture	Fissured, Scaly

Root Type

Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White, Cream / Off-White
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Inflorescence Type	Panicle
Flowering Period	Free-Flowering
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Black, Red, Pink, Purple
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Berry

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1871
Species ID	3164
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.