Syzygium caryophyllatum (L.) Alston (MYRTACEAE)
Common names
Kannada – Kuntala, Kuntu nerale.
Description: Small trees; bark smooth, grey. Leaves opposite, elliptic – obovate, up to 11 x 6 cm, narrowed at base, obtuse or subacute at apex, coriaceous; tertiary veins prominently elevated on lower surface; petiole ca 5 mm long. Flowers small, in terminal corymbose cymes, white, fragrant. Calyx tube turbinate, obscurely 4-lobed. Petals 4 (or 5), connate into a calyptra. There is no staminal disc. The stamens are numerous. The ovary is inferior and 2-locular. The fruit is a globose berry, around 0.5 cm in diameter, turning purple when ripe. It contains a solitary seed.
Flowering : May – June.
Fruiting : June – September.
Distribution: India: Common on laterite soil from coast to 900 m usually in open places. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Sri Lanka.
Uses: Fruits are edible. Tender leaves are used in gargles.