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Syzygium cordatum
Also called Umdoni Waterberry, Umdoni, Watertree, Waterwood
Syzygium cordatum is an evergreen, water-loving tree from southern and eastern Africa that grows along streams and in swampy ground. It needs consistently moist soil and plenty of sun or light shade to do well.
Syzygium cordatum is an evergreen, water-loving tree, which grows to a height of 8–15 m. This tree is often found near streams, 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 stamens 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.
Occurs along streambanks from Kwazulu-Natal northwards to Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It grows in forest margins, in bush or open grassy and sometimes high country.
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
Syzygium ingens · Waterberries · Eugenia calcadensis · Eugenia camptophylla · Syzygium duthieanum · Eugenia gageana · Syzygium glaucum · Syzygium goodenovii · Syzygium kiahii · Eugenia klossii · Syzygium koordersianum · Eugenia laevicaulis
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Syzygium cordatum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
