Syzygium smithii

Syzygium smithii (formerly Acmena smithii) is a summer flowering evergreen tree, belonging to the myrtle family Myrtaceae.^[1] It is commonly planted as shrubs or hedgerows. It features rough woody bark, cream and green smooth waxy leaves with flushes of pink new growth and pink to mauve edible berries. It shares the common name "Lilly Pilly" with several other plants. Unpruned it will grow about 3–5 m (10–15 ft) tall in the garden.

Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Ecology 5 Cultivation 5.1 Cultivars 6 References

Taxonomy

Syzygium smithii 's name dates from its 1789 description as Eugenia smithii by French botanist Jean Louis Marie Poiret,^[2] its specific name honouring James Edward Smith,^[3] who had described it two years earlier as E. elliptica. The name was unusable due to that combination having been used for another species.^[4] It gained its current binomial name in 1893 when reclassified in the genus Syzygium by German botanist Franz Josef Niedenzu,^[5] but was for many years widely known as Acmena smithii.

Common names include lilly pilly, coast satinash, Eungella gum, and in the timber trade, lilipilli satinash.^[3]

Description

Syzygium smithii grows as a tree to 20 m (60 ft) high by 5–15 m (15–50 ft) wide, with a trunk attaining a diameter of 70 cm (2 ft). The largest tree was recorded at Dingo Creek Flora Reserve, south of Tenterfield, being 30 m (98 ft) tall and a trunk 60 cm (2 ft) wide.^[6]

The trunk is sometimes buttressed. The bark is brown and scaled and flakes off easily. Its dark green shiny leaves are arranged oppositely on the stems, and are lanceolate or ovate and measure 2–10 cm (1–4 in) by 1–3 cm wide. The cream-white flowers appear from October to March, occurring in panicles at the end of small branches. Berries follow on, appearing from May to August, and are oval or globular and measure 0.8 to 2 cm in diameter, and range from white to maroon in colour. They are mildly acid, and have been described as somewhat lacking in taste.^[3][7]

A distinctive narrow leaved form with thin leaves 3–6 cm long is found along rainforest riverbanks from Sydney northwards through Queensland,^[3] and a small leaved form with leaves measuring 1.6–6 cm found in dryer rainforests from Colo Heights near Sydney north to the Bunya Mountains.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

Syzygium smithii is found in rainforest from Bundaberg in Central Queensland south through New South Wales and Victoria to Wilsons Promontory.^[3]

Ecology

The Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, Superb Fruit-dove, Topknot Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Satin Bowerbird, and Pied Currawong have all been recorded eating the berries as well as brushtail possums and flying foxes.^[3][8]

Cultivation

Syzygium smithii is widely grown in cultivation as a specimen tree.^[7] Of the several species grown in cultivation, S. smithii is one of the more resistant to attacks by psyllids.^[9][10]

Cultivars

A number of forms have been selected for cultivation , including the following:

• 'Allyn Magic', a compact form of S. smithii var. minor with greyed-orange new foliage bred by Noel Jupp of East Gresford, New South Wales.^[11]

• 'Elizabeth Isaacs' (also known as 'Variegata'), a slightly smaller cultivar that has new growth flushes with a combination of pink, green, cream and cream-margined leaves.^[12]

• 'Firescreen', a select, fast growing, broad leaf form of Acmena smithii. Glossy, copper–red new foliage growth is encouraged by a regular prune and feed, maturing to mid green. Selected for hedging from 1.2m high, Firescreen has a semi-pendulous, dense habit, a short leaf internode and holds it’s foliage all the way to the ground. Unpruned height 6m+. Can also be used as a pot specimen for topiary or as a standard. Firescreen tolerates full sun to shade, windy conditions, heat waves and cold to -2deg. and psyllid and borer resistant. For best results add organic matter to soil when planting and feed and water regularly until established. Bred by Tracey and Stuart Knowland of Bangalow Wholesale Nursery NSW, with Plant Breeder's Rights Granted 2010. Acmena smithii is listed as a fire retardant species by such authorities as Gosford Council NSW, NSW Fire Service and the Country Fire Authority (Refer Ref for example link). NB: fire-retardant does not equal fire-proof, as all trees will burn. ^[13]

• 'Hedgemaster' is a compact shrubby form reaching a metre (3 ft) tall and 0.5 m wide. It has a bushy dense habit and small leaves, and can be used in topiary or formal hedging. It was propagated and licenced under Plant Breeders' Rights by TV presenter Don Burke [Note: Plant Breeders Rights since terminated].^[14]

• 'Red Head', a select, broad leaf, compact tree form of Acmena smithii. Glossy, burgundy-red new foliage is encouraged by a regular prune and feed, maturing to very dark green. Unpruned height 8m+. Selected for compact, bushy form suitable for pleaching, topiary, standards or as a stand alone tree in urban areas. Red Head tolerates full sun to shade, windy conditions, heat waves and cold to -2deg. Red Head is psyllid and borer resistant. Bred by Tracey and Stuart Knowland of Bangalow Wholesale Nursery NSW, with Plant Breeders Rights Granted 2010. For best results add organic matter to soil when planting and feed and water regularly until established. ^[15]

References