''Syzygium ingens'', commonly known as red apple, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a medium-sized to tall rainforest tree with narrow elliptic to oblong leaves and

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s of white flowers on the ends of branchlets, followed by spherical red berries.

Description

''Syzygium ingens'' is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to with a dbh of up to . It has a smooth, straight, greyish or fawn-coloured trunk that is buttressed at the base of older specimens. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, narrow elliptic to oblong, long and wide on a reddish petiole long. The upper surface of the leaves is glossy green and the lower surface is paler with a raised mid-rib. The flowers are borne in panicles on the ends of branchlets, the panicles shorter than the leaves. The five sepals are fused at the base forming a bell-shaped

floral cup In angiosperms, a hypanthium or floral cup is a structure where basal portions of the calyx, the corolla, and the stamens form a cup-shaped tube. It is sometimes called a floral tube, a term that is also used for corolla tube and calyx tube. It ...

about in diameter with rounded lobes. The five petals are white, more or less oblong and long with irregular edges. Flowering occurs from November to December and the fruit is a dark pink to red, spherical to oval

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

, long, in diameter containing a single seed surrounded by white flesh.

Taxonomy

Red apple was first formally described in 1861 by Charles Moore in ''Catalogue of the Natural and Industrial Products of New South Wales, exhibited in the School of Arts by the International Exhibition Commissioners'' and was given the name ''Nelitris ingens'' from an unpublished description by

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vict ...

. In 1988,

Gordon P. Guymer Gordon may refer to: People * Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters * Gordon (surname), the surname * Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War * Clan Gordo ...

and Bernard Hyland changed the name to ''Acmena ingens'' in the journal '' Muelleria'', a name that is accepted by the National Herbarium of New South Wales. In 2006, Lyndley Craven and

Edward Sturt Biffin Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sax ...

changed Moore's name ''Nelitris ingens'' to ''Syzygium ingens'' in the journal '' Blumea'', the name accepted by the Australian Plant Census

Distribution and habitat

Red apple grows on volcanic soil from near Gympie in south eastern Queensland to Casino in northern New South Wales.

Ecology

Birds seen eating the fruit of this species include wompoo fruit dove, green catbird, eastern rosella, pied currawong and topknot pigeon.

Use in horticulture

Germination is assisted by removing the seed from the flesh, and soaking for a day or two to kill any insect larvae. Germination is swift and reliable. Cuttings also strike well.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4674412 Myrtales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Myrtaceae Taxa named by Bernard Hyland