Category: Uses and benefits

Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. (MYRTACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Kunnerael, Bilinerale.
Malayalam: Pula.

Description: These are trees with pale brown bark. The leaves are arranged oppositely, with an ovate or elliptic-lanceolate shape, measuring 7-9 x 2.5-3.2 cm. They are acuminate, rounded, or narrowed at the base, and acuminate at the apex, featuring a coriaceous texture. The upper surface turns black when dry, and the petiole can reach up to 5 mm in length. Cymes panicled, axillary and terminal. Flowers small, in axillary and terminal many-flowered paniculate cymes, in clusters of 3-5 at the ends of the cyme branches, white. Calyx tube funnel shaped; lobes 4-5, distinct. Petals 4-5, orbicular, usually calyptrate. Staminal disc absent. Stamens numerous. Ovary inferior, 2-locular. Fruit a berry, globose, ca 8 mm across, pure white. Seed solitary.

Flowering and Fruiting: February – May.

Distribution: India: Western Peninsula, Orissa, Silhit. Frequent in forest undergrowth of upper Western Ghats, 600 – 900 m. Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Borneo and Malaya.

Uses: Fruits edible. Timber used for construction and agricultural implements. The bark is a source of a black dye. Plant stimulant, used in rheumatism, syphilis, uterine problems; decoction of leaf and root used as vermifuge.

Syzygium heyneanum (Duthie) Wallich ex Gamble (MYRTACEAE)

Common name:
Kannada: Simpi nerale.

Description: These are shrubs or small trees, reaching heights of up to 5 meters. The leaves are arranged opposite, with a linear-elliptic or narrowly oblong shape, measuring up to 12 x 3.5 cm. They taper at the base, have a subobtuse apex, and exhibit pellucid-punctate characteristics. The main nerves are highly numerous, and the petioles are short. Flowers small, in axillary or extra-axillary paniculate cymes, white. Calyx funnel-shaped, obscurely lobed. Petals calyptrate. Stamens numerous. Fruit a berry, oblong, up to 1.5 cm long, crowned with the cup-like calyx-limb.

Flowering : March – May.
Fruiting : September – November.

Distribution: India: Along banks of streams and rivers. Central and Peninsular India.

Syzygium laetum (Buch. – Ham.) Gandhi  (MYRTACEAE)

Description: Trees up to 10 meters tall; bark smooth, white. Leaves opposite, ovate or elliptic, up to 11.5 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acuminate at apex, glabrous. Flowers in few-flowered, ca 5 cm across cymes. Calyx tube narrow narrowly conical, lobes 4. Petals 4, orbicular, ca 1.5 cm across, white. Staminal disc thick. The stamens are numerous, vibrant crimson, extending well beyond the petals. The berries are ovoid, approximately 2.5 cm in diameter, dark brown, and crowned by persistent calyx lobes.

Flowering & Fruiting : December – May.

Distribution: India: In evergreen forests of Western Ghats. Maharashtra and Karnataka. Endemic.

Uses: The wood is a good structural timber.

Syzygium cumini  (L.) Skeels  (MYRTACEAE)

Common name
Kannada – Nerale.

Description: Trees, up to 16 m tall; bark smooth, light grey. Leaves opposite, variable in shape, ovate, to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic-oblong, up to 16 x 5 cm, narrowed at base, acute, acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, chartaceous; lateral nerves distinct beneath; petiole up to 3 cm long. Flowers small, in ramiflorous or axillary, panicled cymes, dirty white. Calyx tube obscurely lobed. Corolla calyptrate; lobes 4. Numerous stamens are present, and the ovary is inferior with two locules. The fruit is a berry, either globose or oblong, reaching up to 4 cm in diameter, and turns purple when ripe, exhibiting juiciness. It contains a solitary seed.

Flowering & Fruiting: February – September.

Distribution: Almost throughout India. Common in deciduous and semi-evergreen forests of most districts. Sri Lanka, Malesia and Australia.

Uses:

• The fruits are edible and utilized in the production of wine, vinegar, jellies, and jam. The timber is employed for both building and agricultural purposes. It is also used for boat building, oars, tool handles, cartwheels, well-curbs, sleepers, furniture, plywood, and as props for shafts and galleries in mines. The wood is a moderately good fuel. Bark is used in dyeing and tanning.
• Leaves form palatable fodder for cattle and also used as green manure. Seeds are used as feed for livestock. Planted as an avenue tree. Bark astringent, used in gargles; bark and leaf used in diarrhoea; decoction of bark and powdered seed used in diabetes; root, bark, leaf, fruit and seed are used in haemorrhage, burning sensation and polyuria; fruit stomachic, carminative and diuretic.

Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston (MYRTACEAE)

Common names
Kannada – Kuntala, Kuntu nerale.

Description: Small trees; bark smooth, grey. Leaves opposite, elliptic – obovate, up to 11 x 6 cm, narrowed at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, coriaceous; tertiary veins prominently elevated on lower surface; petiole ca 5 mm long. Flowers small, in terminal corymbose cymes, white, fragrant. Calyx tube turbinate, obscurely 4-lobed. Petals 4 (or 5), connate into a calyptra. There is no staminal disc. The stamens are numerous. The ovary is inferior and 2-locular. The fruit is a globose berry, around 0.5 cm in diameter, turning purple when ripe. It contains a solitary seed.

Flowering : May – June.
Fruiting : June – September.

Distribution: India: Common on laterite soil from coast to 900 m usually in open places. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Sri Lanka.

Uses: Fruits are edible. Tender leaves are used in gargles.

Symplocos racemosa Roxb. (SYMPLOCACEAE)

Common names
Kannada: Bala loddugina mara.
Tulu & Malayalam: Pachotti.
Sanskrit: Batabhadra, Balipriya.
Tamil: Velli-lethi.
Telugu: Lodduga, Sapara.
English: Sapphire berry, Sweet leaf.

Description: Evergreen trees, 10-15 m tall; bark often marked with white patches. Leaves crowded at the ends of the branches, elliptic-oblong or elliptic-lanceolate, 8-16 x 3-6.5 cm, narrowed at base, acute or acuminate at apex, glandular-serrate, crenate or subentire, glabrous on both sides, polished and shining above; nerves 6-10 pairs; petioles 0.6 – 1 cm long. Flowers in 8-18 cm long axillary racemes, white, fragrant. Calyx glabrous, lobes 5. Corolla lobes 5. Stamens numerous, in 5 phalanges; filaments united in bundles, filiform. The ovary is 2-locular, and the style, which is thick, features a ring of hairs and orange-colored glands at the base, with a capitate stigma. The fruit takes the form of a drupe, ranging from ellipsoid to ovoid or oblong, measuring 1-1.5 x 0.6 cm. It typically contains 1-3 oblong and hard seeds.

Flowering & Fruiting: October – May.

Distribution: India: Western Peninsula. Common in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats, up to 1300 m. South E. Asia.

Uses: The leaves and primarily the bark yield a yellow dye, employed as a mordant in conjunction with other dyes. Additionally, it serves as a component in a red powder utilized during the Holi festival. In calico-printing and leather dyeing, it functions as an auxiliary substance. Bark astringent, aphrodisiac, emmenagogue, tonic, used in diarrhoea, dysentery, leprosy, liver complaints, dropsy, diseases of blood, miscarriage, vaginal ulcers and discharges, ophthalmia and conjunctivitis, decoction employed to stop bleeding of gums; along with sugar bark is used in menorrhagia and other uterine disorders; root bark; leaf, fruit and seed are used in haemorrhage, burning sensation, polyuria, diabetes and for alleviating vata.