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| Riberry | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fruit | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Syzygium |
| Species: | S. luehmannii
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| Binomial name | |
| Syzygium luehmannii | |
Syzygium luehmannii is a medium-sized rainforest tree in the Myrtaceae family, native to Australia. Common names include riberry, small leaved lilly pilly, cherry satinash, cherry alder, and clove lilli pilli. It is commonly grown as an ornamental.
Description
editOccasionally reaching 30 metres in height and 90 cm in trunk diameter, the tree's crown is dense with small leaves, above a tall straight trunk. Large trees are buttressed at the base. The bark is red brown, light grey or pinkish grey with soft papery scales.
The small, glossy, lance-shaped leaves are a shiny green when mature, but pink/red when young. They are opposite, simple, entire, lanceolate to ovate, 4 to 5 cm long, drawn out to a long prominent point. The leaf stalks are 2 to 3 mm long.
Flowers form in November or December. They are in small panicles at the ends of branchlets, half the length of the leaves or less. The white or cream petals form in fours or fives, 1.5 mm long. The stamina are 2 to 5 mm long.
The fruit matures from December to February, being a pear-shaped red berry growing to 13 mm long, covering a single seed, 4 mm in diameter.[4][5][6]
Distribution
editThe habitat is Australian riverine, littoral, subtropical or tropical rainforest.[7] It grows on volcanic soils or deep sandy soils between the Macleay River in New South Wales to near Cairns in tropical Queensland.
Conservation
editAs of December 2024[update], both the Queensland Government and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) consider this species to be of least concern.[1][8]
Cultivation
editSeed germination is unreliable, complete after 25 days; however, cuttings strike readily.
The tree commonly only reaches 8–10 metres in cultivation.
Uses
editThe fruit is most commonly used to make a distinctively flavoured jam and is also used in sauces, syrups and confectionery. It can also be eaten and enjoyed straight off the tree. The riberry plant is also very popular as a garden ornamental and street tree. It is easily maintained as a smaller tree by light pruning.
The berry has a tart, cranberry-like flavour, with a hint of cloves. It has been popular as a gourmet bushfood since the early 1980s and is commercially cultivated on a small-scale basis.
Ecology
editThe fruit is eaten by the Australasian figbird, emu, and flying fox (pteropus).
References
edit- ^ a b Jimbo, T. (2022). "Syzygium luehmannii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T198692909A202837534. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T198692909A202837534.en. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Syzygium luehmannii". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Syzygium luehmannii (F.Muell.) L.A.S.Johnson". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Australian Native Foods". CSIRO. CSIRO Australia. 2005. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Syzygium luehmannii". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Harden, G.; Crayn, D.M. "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Floyd, A.G. (1989). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia. Inkata Press. ISBN 0-909605-57-2. OCLC 20874029.
- ^ "Species profile—Syzygium luehmannii". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
External links
edit
- View a map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- See images of this species on Flickriver.com