''Syzygium cordatum'' is an
evergreen, water-loving
tree, which grows to a height of 8–15 m. This tree is often found near
streams
A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...
, on forest margins or in swampy spots. The leaves are elliptic to circular, bluish green on top and a paler green below. Young leaves are reddish. The white to pinkish fragrant flowers are borne in branched terminals and have numerous fluffy
stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s and produce abundant nectar. It flowers from August to November. The fruits are oval
berries, red to dark-purple when ripe.
Common names are ''waterbessie'' (
Afrikaans), ''undoni, umSwi, umJoni'' and ''hute'' (
Shona), ''trâm mốc, trâm vối'' or ''vối rừng'' (
Vietnamese). "Water berry" is also used for other species of ''
Syzygium''.
Distribution
Occurs along streambanks from
Kwazulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
northwards to
Zimbabwe and
Mozambique. It grows in forest margins, in bush or open grassy and sometimes high country.
Uses
This tree is known for its many uses. The fleshy fruit is slightly acidic in flavour and is eaten by children, monkeys,
bush-babies,
bats and birds. The berries are also used to sometimes make an alcoholic drink. The powdered bark is used as a fish poison. In central Africa the tree is known as a remedy for stomach ache and diarrhoea. It is also used to treat respiratory ailments and tuberculosis
Gallery
Image:Syzygiumcordatum2.jpg, Flowers
Image:Syzygiumcordatum1.jpg, Fruit
See also
*
List of fruits
External links
*
{{Authority control
cordatum
''Echinocardium cordatum'', also known as the common heart urchin or the sea potato, is a sea urchin in the family Loveniidae. It is found in sub-tidal regions in the NE Atlantic. Other un-named species have been identified as this species from t ...
Trees of Africa
Flora of South Tropical Africa
Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Flora of Mozambique
Flora of Zimbabwe
Trees of South Africa
Fruits originating in Africa