Syzygium cumini ( Linnaeus 1753: 471 ) Skeels (1912: 2)

Byng, James W., Barthelat, Fabien, Snow, Neil & Bernardini, Benedetta, 2016, Revision of Eugenia and Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the Comoros archipelago, Phytotaxa 252 (3), pp. 163-184 : 177-178

3. Syzygium cumini ( Linnaeus 1753: 471) Skeels (1912: 2)

For synonyms see WCSP (2015).

Trees or large shrubs to 25 m. Branchlets terete, 2‒3 mm diameter, whitish. Petioles ca. 1‒2 cm long. Blades 6‒18 × 3.5‒5.8 cm, oblong-elliptic, elliptic, obovate, oblanceolate-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate; base cuneate, apex acuminate or acute; secondary vein pairs 20‒30 or more; intramarginal vein 1‒2 mm from the margin. Inflorescences usually in the axils of fallen leaves (or terminal or axillary), usually many-flowered. Flowers ca. 5‒9 mm in diameter at anthesis, sessile. Hypanthium 2‒3 × 2‒2.5 mm, obconical, greenish. Calyx lobes 0.3‒1 × 0.5 mm, triangular. Petals 1.5‒3 × 1.5‒3 mm, calyptrate, orbicular. Stamens 3‒5 mm long, white. Styles 2‒5 mm long. Fruits 0.7‒1.7 cm long, globose to ellipsoid, blackish at maturity.

Habitat and ecology:— Humid secondary forests and roadsides.

Vernacular names:— Zambarao (dialect Shibushi), M’zambarao (dialect Shimahorais), jamblon (dialect Créole).

Specimens examined:— MAYOTTE [ FRANCE]. Grande Terre , Bandrele , Dapani, Reserve Forestiere de Dapani, 27 February 2002 (fr.), F. Barthelat 718 (G, K!, MAYOTTE!, MO, P!) ; Station agricole de Coconi, 28 January 1991

(fl.), Menager S-100 (P!); Chirongui, Col de Chirongui (fl.), 19 December 2001, F. Barthelat 617 (G, K!, MAYOTTE!, MO, P!) .