马六甲蒲桃 ma liu jia pu tao

Eugenia malaccensis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 470. 1753; E. macrophylla Lamarck; Jambosa domestica Blume; J. malaccensis (Linnaeus) Candolle.

Trees, to 15 m tall. Branchlets grayish brown when dry, stout, terete. Petiole ca. 1 cm; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to elliptic, 16-24 × 6-8 cm, leathery, abaxially yellowish brown when dry, adaxially dark green and not glossy when dry, secondary veins 11-14 on each side of midvein, 1-1.5 cm apart, and at an angle of ca. 45° from midvein, reticulate veins conspicuous, intramarginal veins 3-5 mm from margin and another inconspicuous intramarginal vein ca. 1 mm from margin, base cuneate, apex acute. Inflorescences lateral on older leafless branches, cymes, in 4-9-flowered clusters; peduncle very short. Flowers red, ca. 2.5 cm, stout, ridged. Hypanthium broadly obconic, ca. 1 × 1 cm. Calyx lobes 4, suborbicular, 5-6 × 7-8 mm, apex rounded. Petals rounded, ca. 1 × 1 cm, distinct. Stamens completely distinct, 1-1.3 cm. Style as long as stamens. Fruit ovoid to pot-shaped, ca. 4 cm, 1-seeded. Fl. May or Jan-Feb, fr. Apr-May.

Cultivated but sometimes naturalized in mixed forests in Taiwan and Yunnan [probably native to Malaysia].

This species is commonly cultivated for its fruit in wet-tropical areas around the world and is sometimes naturalized.