Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeel | |
Myrtaceae | |
Naaval | |
| Botanical Name | Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeel |
| Synonyms | Myrtus cumini .L.; Eugenia Brachiate Roxb. |
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Common Name | English: Jamamum, Malabar plum / Tamil: Naaval |
| Distribution | Global : India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Andaman Islands. Indian : Throughout India |
| Description | Large evergreen tree up to 30 m height. Bark light brown at young and dark brown at mature. Leaves simple, opposite decussate, smooth, glossy, leathery, dark green, shiny, and elliptic to oblong or ovate, secondary nerves join at the end for intramarginal nerves. Inflorescence raceme. Flowers are small, numerous, fragrant, born in fascicles in the branches of the tree and are greenish white in colour. Calyx small 5 caducous, petals 5 white inconspicuous, caducous. Stamens numerous arranged in ring on the inferior ovary. Ovary globular, inferior, style short and stigma capitate. The fruits are berry, oblong, black, juicy shining when thoroughly ripe and one seeded. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | March-May/June-August |
| Uses | Food for livestock, ornamental plant, fruit - raw or made into jams, sherbet, jellies, juice, tarts, puddings etc. |
| Medicinal Uses | Used for the treatment of sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, biliousness,Dysentery, ulcers and diabetics. |
| Tamil Name | Naaval |