Syzygium paniculatum

Syzygium paniculatum
Large specimen, trunk diameter 88 cm, estimated height 30 m, Illawarra, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Syzygium
Species:
S. paniculatum
Binomial name
Syzygium paniculatum
Synonyms[2]
  • Eugenia paniculata Gaertn. J.Britt. nom. illeg.
  • Eugenia rheedioides Standl. & Steyerm.

Syzygium paniculatum, the magenta lilly pilly or magenta cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to New South Wales, Australia. A broad dense bushy rainforest tree, in cultivation it grows to a height of 15 m (49 ft) with a trunk diameter up to 35 cm (14 in). The largest known example is at Ourimbah Creek, 35 m (115 ft) metres tall.[3] The leaves are 3–9 cm (1.2–3.5 in) long, opposite, simple and slightly obovate, tapering at the leaf base. They are dark glossy green above, and paler below. White flowers are produced in clusters. The edible fruit is usually magenta, but can be white, pink or purple. The seeds are polyembryonic.[4]

A population of Syzygium paniculatum occurs on the eastern side of Jervis Bay, with trees 20–30 m (66–98 ft) tall, some with a diameter at breast height of 1.5 m (4.9 ft).[3]

  1. ^ "Syzygium paniculatum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  2. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  3. ^ a b Luke Foster, New South Wales Government - Threatened Species Officer.
  4. ^ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2