Syzygium jambos
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| iSyzygium jambos | ||||||||||||||
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| Syzygium jambos L. Alston |
The fruit tree Syzygium jambos (syn. Eugenia jambos, Jambosa jambos) has several common names, including chom pu or chom-phu, rose apple, Malay apple, Malabar plum, and jambu. The edible fruit is shaped like a small pear. The plant is native to Southeast Asia but is naturalized in India, especially the state of Kerala. It has also been introduced across the Americas where it now grows in wild thickets. Specimens have been planted on nearly every continent.
The tree has long, glossy green leaves and white or greenish flowers. There are several varieties, including the one most common in Thailand bearing a pale green fruit, and Malaysian varieties with red skin. It is often some shade of dull yellow. The skin is thin and waxy, and the hollow core contains a small amount of inedible fluff. The flesh is a bit softer than that of an apple. It tastes like a cross between apple and watermelon, with a very mild rose scent and a slightly bitter aftertaste. The fruit is not grown commercially or sold in markets, and is generally picked from the garden and enjoyed as a treat.
In ancient Sanskrit, the land we now call India was referred to by the ancient Indians themselves as Jambudvipa, which means Roseappleland (jambud = rose apple; vipa = land).
This plant can be quite invasive in areas where it has been introduced. It is a threat to several ecosystems, including those on several Hawaiian islands, Réunion, and the Galápagos Islands, and in parts of Australia and Central America.
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