Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense)

Malay apple (Syzygium malaccense) is a plant species in the Myrtaceae family. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching 15 meters in height, with a straight trunk 20–45 cm in diameter, low-set branches, and a dense, rounded crown. The fruit has a flavor ranging from sweet and acidic to astringent; it can be eaten fresh or used as an ingredient in rujak (spicy fruit salad), compotes, or asinan (pickled/brined fruit).

The leaves are simple, large, and arranged oppositely along thick twigs, with stiff petioles 1–2 cm in length. They are oblong or elliptic-oblong in shape, measuring 20–35 cm long and 8–15 cm wide. The upper surface is a deep, glossy dark green, covered by a thick, smooth, waxy cuticle and entirely hairless (glabrous). The underside is a dull, pale green, featuring prominent, neatly curved lateral secondary veins. The texture is very rigid and leathery (coriaceous), with entire (smooth) margins. When crushed, the leaves emit a mild, aromatic scent.

The inflorescence consists of dense, clustered cymes containing 3–12 flowers. These clusters emerge directly from the older, woody branches located within the shaded lower canopy, supported by short, stiff pedicels. The flowers are 5–7 cm in diameter, bisexual, and follow a four-part floral structure. They feature hundreds of long, stiff stamens—vibrant red, magenta, or brilliant crimson—that crowd together, extending in all directions. There are four small petals, matching the stamens in color, while the calyx tube measures 1.5–2 cm in length. The petals are red and oval, ovate, or rounded, also 1.5–2 cm long. The numerous stamens reach 3.5 cm in length, and the style is 3–4.5 cm long. The flowers bloom simultaneously and fall to the ground in unison. They produce abundant nectar, which attracts insects and wild birds.

The fruit is a true fleshy berry, 5–10 cm long and 5–8 cm in diameter. It varies in shape—ovoid, obovoid, oblong, or pyriform—and grows in clusters attached to older branches. The apex of the fruit is crowned by the persistent, thick, and rigid remains of the calyx, which curve inward.

The exocarp is firm yet yielding; its surface can be smooth, waxy, or marked with fine longitudinal lines, and it has a dull appearance. Young fruits are greenish-white and firm, while mature fruits range in color from bright pink and dark maroon to blackish-red or deep, intense purple. The mesocarp is thick, soft, cotton-like, and juicy; it is pure white in color, with a sweet or mildly tart, refreshing flavor and a fragrant aroma. Each fruit contains a single, perfectly round seed, 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter, which is dull brown and firm.

S. malaccense grows wild in tropical regions characterized by consistently wet, humid, and warm conditions, with an average annual rainfall of 1,500–3,000 mm. It thrives in fertile, loose, organic-rich alluvial soils—often sandy loams—with a constant supply of groundwater. The plant grows well in full sun or light, partial shade, at elevations ranging from 0 to 1,200 meters.

The fruit’s flavor ranges from sweet and tart to astringent. It is typically consumed fresh or used as an ingredient in rujak (spicy fruit salad), stewed dishes, or asinan (pickled/brined fruit). The tree's bark is used as a remedy for canker sores, while its hard, reddish wood is well-suited for use as a construction material.

The nutritional value per 100g is moisture 90.3–91.6g, protein 0.5–0.7g, fat 0.1–0.2g, fiber, 0.6–0.8g, ash 0.26–0.39g, calcium 5.6–5.9g, phosphorus 11.6–17.9g, Iron 0.2–0.82g, carotene 0.003–0.008mg, vitamin A 3–10 I.U., Thiamine 15–39mcg, riboflavin 2.0–3.9g, niacin 0.21–0.41mg, ascorbic acid 6.5–17.0mg.

TAXON

Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Tracheophyta
Subphylum Angiospermae
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Myrtales
Family Myrtaceae
Subfamily Myrtoideae
Tribe Syzygieae
Genus: Syzygium Gaertn. in Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 166 (1788)
Species: Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry in J. Arnold Arbor. 19: 215 (1938)

HOMOTYPIC SYNONYMS

Caryophyllus malaccensis (L.) Stokes in Bot. Mat. Med. 3: 72 (1812)
Eugenia malaccensis L. in Sp. Pl.: 470 (1753)
Jambosa malaccensis (L.) DC. in Prodr. 3: 286 (1828)
Myrtus malaccensis (L.) Spreng. in Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 484 (1825)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Eugenia domestica Baill. in Hist. Pl. 6: 345 (1876)
Eugenia macrophylla Lam. in Encycl. 3: 196 (1789)
Eugenia pseudomalaccensis Linden in Fl. Serres Jard. Eur. 5: t. 429 (1849)
Eugenia purpurascens Baill. in Hist. Pl. 6: 345 (1876)
Eugenia purpurea Roxb. in Fl. Ind., ed. 1832. 2: 483 (1832)
Jambosa domestica DC. in Prodr. 3: 288 (1828)
Jambosa laevis Montrouz. in Mém. Acad. Imp. Sci. Lyon, Sect. Sci., sér. 2, 10: 208 (1860)
Jambosa macrophylla (Lam.) DC. in Prodr. 3: 286 (1828)
Jambosa purpurascens DC. in Prodr. 2: 286 (1825)
Jambosa purpurea (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. in Prodr. Fl. Ind. Orient. 1: 333 (1834)
Myrtus lamarckii F.Dietr. in Neu. Nachtr. Vollst. Lex. Gärtn. 6: 97 (1837)
Myrtus macrophylla (Lam.) Spreng. in Syst. Veg., ed. 16. 2: 483 (1825)
Syzygium laeve (Montrouz.) Govaerts in R.H.A.Govaerts & al., World Checkl. Myrtaceae: 396 (2008)

PUBLICATIONS

Baksh-Comeau, Y., Maharaj, S.S., Adams, C.D., Harris, S.A., Filer, D.L. & Hawthorne, W.D. (2016). An annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Trinidad and Tobago with analysis of vegetation types and botanical 'hotspots'. Phytotaxa 250: 1-431.

Barthelat, F. (2019). La flore illustrée de Mayotte: 1-687. Biotope éditions.

Beaman, J.H. & Anderson, C. (2004). The Plants of Mount Kinabalu 5: 1-609. Natural history publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Berendsohn, W.G., Gruber, A.K. & Monterrosa Salomón, J. (2012). Nova Silva Cusatlantica. Árboles natinos e introducidos de El Salvador. Parte 2: Angiospermae - Familias M a P y Pteridophyta. Englera 29-2: 1-300.

Byng, J.W., Wilson, P.G. & Snow, N. (2015). Typifications and nomenlcatural notes on Indian Myrtaceae. Phytotaxa 217(2): 101-116.

Davidse, G. & al. (eds.) (2009). Flora Mesoamericana 4(1): 1-855. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.

Govaerts, R. (2003). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Database in ACCESS: 1-216203. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Govaerts, R., Sobral, N., Ashton, P., Barrie, F., Holst, B.K., Landrum, L.L., Matsumoto, K., Fernanda Mazine, F., Nic Lughadha, E., Proença, C. & al. (2008). World Checklist of Myrtaceae: 1-455. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Hokche, O., Berry, P.E. & Huber, O. (eds.) (2008). Nuevo Catálogo de la Flora Vascular de Venezuela: 1-859. Fundación Instituto Botánico de Venezuela.

Imada, C.T., Faccenda, K., Thomas, M.K., Gallaher, T., Oppenheimer, H., Kennedy, B. & Arthur, K. (eds.) (2025). Hawaiian Native & Naturalized Vascular Plants Checklist (2025 Update). Bishop Museum technical report 75: 1-480.

Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo). Taxonomania. Revue de Taxonomie et de Nomenclature Botaniques 30: 1-307.

Leti, M., Hul, S., Fouché, J.-G., Cheng, S.K. & David, B. (2013). Flore photographique du Cambodge: 1-589. Éditions Privat, Toulouse.

Morat, P. & Veillon, J.-M. (1985). Contributions à la conaissance de la végétation et de la flore de Wallis et Futuna. Bulletin du Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle. Section B, Adansonia 7: 259-329.

National Parks Board Singapore (2006). Vascular Plant Life Checklist Pulau Ubin www.nparks.gov.sg/nparks_cms/cms/cmsmgr/data/6/PlantChkList.xls.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Pasha, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Plunkett, G.M., Ranker, T.A., Sam, C. & Balick, M.J. (2022). Towards a checklist of the vascular flora of Vanuatu. Candollea 77: 105-118.

Singh, V., Singh, P. & Dash, S.S. (eds.) (2021). Flora of India 9: 1-482. Botanical Survey of India.

Soh, W.K. & Parnell, J. (2015). A revision of Syzygium Gaertn. (Myrtaceae) in Indochina (Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam). Adansonia, sér. 3, 37: 179-275.

Sykes, W.R. (2016). Flora of the Cook Islands: 1-973. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Hawaii.

Takeuchi, W. (2005). Floristic notes from a holocene successional environment in Papuasia. Harvard Papers in Botany 10: 95-116.

Tuiwawa, S.H., Craven, L.A., Sam, C. & Crisp, M.D. (2013). The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) in Vanuatu. Blumea 58: 53-67.

Welsh, S.L. (1998). Flora Societensis: 1-420. E.P.S. Inc. Utah.

Wheatley, J.I. (1992). A guide to the common trees of Vanuatu. With lists of their traditional uses & ni-Vanuatu names: 1-308. Department of Forestry, Port Vila.

Whistler, W.A. (2022). Flora of Samoa Flowering Plants: 1-930. National Tropical Botanicl Garden. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

Wu, Z., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D. (eds.) (2007). Flora of China 13: 1-548. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

VERNACULAR NAME

Assamese: Pani-jamuk
Bali: Nyambu rakte
Bengali: মালাকা জামরুল Malaka jamrul
Bislama: Nakavika
Bugis: Jambu bolu
Burmese: သပြေ-သပြေ Thabyo-thabyay
Chinese (simplified): 马六甲蒲桃
Chinese (traditional): 麻六甲蒲桃
Czech: Hřebíčkovec malacký
English: Malay apple, Mountain apple, Malay rose apple, Malay apple, Rose apple, Otaheite apple, Pink satin-ash, Plumrose, Pommerac
Filipino: yanbu, tersana, makopang-kalabaw
Finnish: Malakanjambolaani
French: Jambosier rouge, Pomme kanak, Pomme malac, Poirier de malaque
German: Wasserapfel
Hawaiian: ‘Ōhi‘a ai
Hindi: मलय जामुन Malay jamun
Indonesian: Jambu bol, Jambu kepal, Jambu dersono
Japanese: アペル - マレーフトモモ
Java: Jambu darsana, Jambu darsono, Dersana, Dersono, Tersana, Tersono
Makassar: Jambu bolo
Malaysia: Jambu bol, Jambu merah, Jambu botol, Jambu keling, Jambu melaka, Jambu kepal, Jambu susu, Jambu gelas, Jambu lipa
Maluku: Nutune, Lutune, Lutu kau, Rutuul
Minangkabau: Jambu bo, Jambu jambak
New Caledonia: Pomme Kanak
Palauan: Kidel
Polish: Czapetka malajska
Portuguese: Jambeiro, Jambeiro-vermelho, Jambo, Jambo-vermelho
Sinhala: පිනි ජම්බු
Slovak: Klinčekovec melacký
Spanish: Manzana de agua
Sulawesi Utara: Kupa maaimu
Sunda: Jambu bool
Tagalog: Makopa
Thai: ชมพู่มะเหมี่ยว
Vietnam: cay dao, cay roi

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