Syzygium xanthophyllum (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Syzygium xanthophyllum (C.B. Robinson) Merr.

Protologue: Philipp. Journ. Sci., Bot. 79: 424 (1951).

Family: Myrtaceae

Synonyms

• Eugenia xanthophylla C.B. Robinson (1909).

Vernacular names

• Philippines: malatampui (Tagalog), lapinig (Bikol), barakbak (Iloko).

Distribution

Endemic in the Philippines.

Uses

The timber is reputed to be used as kelat. The fruits are edible.

Observations

• A medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall, bole up to 50 cm in diameter, bark surface smooth, greyish.
• Leaves narrowly elliptical or narrowly oblong to almost linear, 7-15 cm long, with c. 18 pairs of secondary veins, petiole fairly short.
• Flowers in short, lateral or terminal cymose clusters, white, calyx lobes persistent.
• Fruit a globose berry, 2-3 cm in diameter, crowned by the persistent calyx, growing in cymose clusters, reddish when ripe.

S. xanthophyllum occurs in forest at low altitudes and is not common.

Selected sources

8.Brown, W.H., 1951-1957. Useful plants of the Philippines. Reprint of the 1941-1943 ed. 3 Volumes. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Technical Bulletin 10. Bureau of Printing, Manila, the Philippines.

24.Guide to Philippine Flora and Fauna, (various editors), 1986. Vol. 1-4. Natural Resources Management Center, Ministry of Natural Resources & University of the Philippines, Manila, the Philippines.

54.Merrill, E.D., 1923-1925. An enumeration of Philippine flowering plants. 4 Volumes. Government of the Philippine Islands, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bureau of Printing, Manila.

68, 125, 426, 673. timbers

Authors

• P.C.M. Jansen, J. Jukema, L.P.A. Oyen, T.G. van Lingen