Syzygium australe
| Syzygium australe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Syzygium |
| Species: | S. australe |
| Binomial name | |
| Syzygium australe (H.L.Wendl. ex Link) B.Hyland[1] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Syzygium australe, with many common names that include brush cherry,[1] scrub cherry,[1] creek lilly-pilly,[1] creek satinash,[1] and watergum,[1] is a rainforest tree native to eastern Australia. It can attain a height of up to 35 m with a trunk diameter of 60 cm. In cultivation, this species is usually a small to medium-sized tree with a maximum height of only 18m.[3]
Description
The leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate from 4–8 cm long. Flowers are white and in clusters. The dark pink to red fruits are edible.[4]
This species is commonly confused with magenta cherry and the blue lilly pilly. However, the brush cherry has a paler trunk.
Distribution
The species occurs in coastal regions in Queensland and New South Wales, northwards from Batemans Bay.[5]
Cultivation and Uses
Brush cherry is commonly cultivated in gardens in eastern Australia, mostly as shorter, shrub-like cultivars such as "Aussie Boomer", "Aussie Compact", "Birdsville", "Bush Christmas", "Minipilly" and "Tiny Trev".[3] These are especially popular as hedges.
The pleasantly sour fruit are also eaten fresh or cooked. The fruit can be used to make jams and jellies.
This species has been adopted by Coffs Harbour City Council as the City's floral emblem.[3]
Outside Australia, brush cherry is used as a subject for bonsai.[3]
Mature brush cherry at Watagans National Park, Australia
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Syzygium australe". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ↑ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 January 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray A. (2003). Australian native plants: cultivation, use in landscaping and propagation (Fifth ed.). Australia: Reed New Holland. p. 696. ISBN 1 876334 90 8.
- ↑ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2
- ↑ Wilson. Peter G. "New South Wales Flora Online: Syzygium australe". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.