The Java plum prefers a near tropical climate and thrives in deep, well-drained soil. It is frost tender and drought tolerant once established. It grows best in a partially shaded position and is often found along watercourses.
Java plum
Syzygium cumini, also known as Java plum, jambolan, or black plum, is a fast-growing evergreen tree native to Indonesia and northern Queensland. It produces purple-black, olive-shaped fruits that are consumed raw or used in various culinary applications. The tree's wood is durable and used for construction and furniture, and its bark has tannins used in tanning. It has medicinal properties and is known for its astringent qualities.
Syzygium cumini
India
- The Java plum tree, also known as Syzygium cumini, is native to Indonesia and northern Queensland. - It is a fast-growing evergreen tree that can reach a height of 5-30 meters. - The tree has an open, spreading crown and prefers a partially shaded position with well-drained soil. - It is frost tender but can tolerate drought once established. - The Java plum tree thrives along watercourses and requires a near-tropical climate to produce fruit. - The fruits of the Java plum tree are purple-black and olive-shaped. - They have a somewhat astringent taste and can be eaten raw or used in various culinary creations such as jams, jellies, preserves, liquors, vinegar, and pies. - The fruit can also be soaked in salt water to remove its astringency. - A wine similar in taste and color to port can be made from the fruit. - The bark of the Java plum tree is used in the preparation of sugar cane juice wine. - The wood of the tree is red, greyish-red, or greyish-brown and is coarse and hard. - It has a close, straight grain and can achieve a high polish when kiln dried. - The wood is durable in water and resistant to borers and termites. - In India and Pakistan, it is widely used in construction, boat building, furniture making, and as fuel. - The bark of the Java plum tree contains tannin and is used in tanning and preserving fishing nets. - The flowers of the tree produce abundant nectar, which can be used to make honey. - However, the honey ferments within a few months. - The Java plum tree is also a host to the tsar silkworm. - The seed of the tree is fed to cattle and is rich in protein and carbohydrates. - The leaves of the Java plum tree have astringent properties. - The juice of the leaves is used to treat dysentery with blood discharges. - The bark also has astringent properties and is used to treat chronic diarrhea, dysentery, and menorrhagia. - A decoction of the bark can be used as a mouthwash and gargle for treating mouth diseases. - A paste made from burnt bark mixed with oil can be used to treat burns and scalds. - The fruit juice of the Java plum tree is astringent, stomachic, carminative, antiscorbutic, and diuretic. - It is used to treat enlargement of the spleen, chronic diarrhea, and suppressed or scanty urine. - The seed of the tree is astringent and can be used for treating diabetes mellitus and glycosuria. - It helps reduce sugar in urine. - The leaves, stems, flower buds, opened flowers, and bark of the Java plum tree have been found to have an antibiotic effect. - The Java plum tree can be propagated from seeds or tip cuttings.
Deep, well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil is preferred by Syzygium cumini.
A fast growing, evergreen native of Indonesia and northern Queensland, which grows from 5 -30 m with an open, spreading crown, often exceeding the height. It is frost tender and drought tolerant when established, preferring a protected, partially shaded position on deep, well drained, fertile, humus rich soil. It thrives along watercourses. It needs a near tropical climate to produce fruit.
The purple - black, olive shaped, somewhat astringent fruits are eaten raw and in jams, jellies, preserves, liquors, vinegar and pies. A wine resembling port in taste and colour is made from the fruit. The fruit is sometimes soaked in salt water to remove the astringency. The bark is used in the preparation of a sugar cane juice wine.
Nutritional composition of the Java plum per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 83.75 -85.8%, Protein - 0.7 - 0.129 g, Ash - 0..32 - 0.4 g, Fat - 0.15 - 0.3 g, Carbohydrates 14.0 g, Fiber - 0.3 - 0.9 mg, Magnesium - 35 mg, Calcium - 8.3 - 15 mg, Iron - 1.2 - 1.62 mg, Phosphorous - 15 - 16.2 mg, Sodium - 26.2 mg, Copper - 0.23 mg, Potassium - 55 mg, Sulphur - 13 mg, Chlorine - 8 mg, Carotene - 80 I.U., Thiamin - 0.008 - 0.03 mg, Riboflavin - 0.009 - 0.01 mg, Niacin - 0.2 - 0.29 mg, Ascorbic acid - 5.7 - 18 mg.
The wood is red, greyish - red or greyish - brown, coarse and hard, with a close, straight grain. Although difficult to work, the kiln dried wood achieves a high polish. It is durable in water and resistant to borers and termites. In India and Pakistan it is used extensively for posts, beams, cart shafts, solid cart wheels, yokes, boat building, hut construction, oars, canoes, boat masts, house building, rice mortars, turnery, furniture and is an acceptable fuel. The bark contains 13 - 19% tannin and is used in tanning and preserving fishing nets. The bark yields a durable brown dye.
The flowers produce an abundance of nectar, which produces a fine honey but this ferments in a few months. The tree is a host to the tsar silkworm. The seed is fed to cattle and is rich in protein and carbohydrates.
The leaves are astringent, their juice is used to treat dysentry with blood discharges and is given in 2 - 4 fluid ounce doses. The bark is astringent also and its juice is given in similar doses for chronic diarrhoea and dysentry and for menorrhogia. A decoction of the bark is used as a mouth wash and gargle for treating spongy gums, stomatitis, relaxed throat and other mouth diseases. A paste of the burnt bark is mixed with a bland oil and is used to treat burns and scalds. The fruit juice is astringent, stomachic, carminative, antiscorbutic and diuretic and is used in enlargement of the spleen, chronic diarrhoea and suppressed or scanty urine. The seed is astringent and efficacious for diabetes, mellitus and glycosuria. It quickly reduces sugar in urine. The leaves, stems, flowerbuds, opened flowers and bark are found to have an antibiotic effect.
Propagation is from seed or tip cuttings.