Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Syzygium jambos
Food
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
Product
English Common Name
Rose Apple
Peru Common Name
Pomarrosa
Tree Family
Myrtaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
16cm
Length
×
4.5cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
1200–2300m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Unknown
Native to
Region
Asia
Southeast Asia
Exotic in
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
The seeds are dispersed by animals. The seeds can be poisonous. Natural regeneration of seed in suitable sites is generally abundant and will proceed under almost any conditions. The seeds usually germinate within 10-120 days if sown fresh. Plant the seed in a shallow, shaded position, gently pressing it into the ground, and water carefully so that the seeds do not wash off. A single seed often results in 3-8 seedlings. Young plants do not transport well, so they should be placed in individual containers as soon as they are large enough to handle and before the roots have grown much. Young plants need some shade. It grows well in all soil types, including degraded soils. It tolerates full sun and partial shade.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Food
- Firewood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Product
Commonly used to make fence posts and plant cuttings, and larger pieces can be used to make furniture, spokes for wheels, arms for chairs, beams for construction, frames for musical instruments, and cases. Fruit is usually eaten raw, but can also be stewed and used to make jams and desserts. The flowers and fruit can also be made into rose water. An attractive tree with showy cream-colored flowers and dark green foliage, it is often grown as an ornamental and hedge plant in gardens. A yellow essential oil, important in the perfume industry, is derived from the leaves by distillation. The flexible branches are easily divided and used to make rings for large sugar barrels and for weaving large baskets. Various parts of the tree are used medicinally as a tonic or diuretic. the bark is used to treat fever and diarrhea.
Farm Services
- Windbreak
- Erosion Control
Windbreak: young plants can be pruned into hedges and windbreaks
Erosion Control: plants develop massive root systems and can be useful in stabilizing soils on river banks
Erosion Control: plants develop massive root systems and can be useful in stabilizing soils on river banks
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
The flowers are visited by bees and other insects.
Citations
Citations
Solis R, Vallejos-Torres G, Arévalo L, Marín-Díaz J, Ñique-Alvarez M, Engedal T, Bruun TB (2020). Carbon stocks and the use of shade trees in different coffee growing systems in the Peruvian Amazon. The Journal of Agricultural Science 1–11. https:// doi.org/10.1017/S002185962000074X;
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Szygium jambos (L.). Accessed 13 Oct 2022. Published on the Internet: https://panamabiota.org/stri/taxa/index.php?taxon=Syzygium+jambos&formsubmit=Search+Terms;
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-10-13. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Syzygium+jambos