Bon-jam or Kak-jam, Syzygium fruticosum

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Bon-jam or Kak-jam (Syzygium fruticosum, family: Myrtaceae) is a small or medium-sized tree with short trunk and glabrous all of its parts, attaining a height of 10 m. Bark is greyish brown. The tree looks a lot like Black plum, Syzygium cumini but is small in size. The plant is native to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, China and Thailand. It is found in village area, parks and gardens and forest margins in the country.

Other local name: Buti-jam 

Leaves are dark green with clear midrib and numerous lateral nerves, coriaceous, undulated, oblong-lanceolae, 6-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide, apex acuminated, base rounded, petioled, opposite.

Flowers are in cluster on cyme inflorescence, up to 8 cm long. Flowers are white, stamens numerous, tiny, sessile. 

Fruit is a edible berry, globose, ellipsoid, 5-9 mm long. These are deep purple when ripe. Flowering occurs in summer (Apr-May). Fruit ripens in rainy season. The plant is propagated by seeds.

Its fruits are frequently consume by village children. Wood is used as fuel, leaves are as fodder. The leafy and fruitful small tree can be planted in gardens for welcoming different kinds of birds. 

 Synonym: Eugenia fruticosa

Comments

  1. SimonaGabrieleMay 31, 2022 at 10:18 AM

    The best fruit trees to plant in your home orchard depend on the fruit you love to eat. If you need ideas, don't forget to visit Fruit trees

    ReplyDelete
  2. Zinia NasrinApril 14, 2023 at 12:02 PM

    Very nice photography.

    ReplyDelete
  3. CMBDJuly 8, 2024 at 5:41 AM

    I'm confused
    Syzygium fruticosum DC.
    This name is a synonym of Syzygium cumini
    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60468907-2
    Eugenia fruticosa (DC.) Roxb.
    This name is a synonym of Syzygium cumini
    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:60468907-2
    https://www.mindat.org/taxon-3182351.html

    ReplyDelete

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