About Syzygium cordatum Hochst.
Syzygium cordatum Hochst. is an evergreen, water-loving tree that reaches a height of 8 to 15 meters. It is commonly found growing near streams, on forest margins, or in swampy spots. Its leaves range from elliptic to circular in shape, with a bluish green upper surface and paler green lower surface. Young leaves are reddish. Its fragrant flowers, which are white to pinkish, grow on branched terminal clusters. The flowers have numerous fluffy stamens and produce large amounts of nectar. This species flowers from August to November. Its fruits are oval berries that turn red to dark-purple when ripe. Common names for this species include waterbessie in Afrikaans; undoni, umSwi, umJoni and hute in Shona; and trâm mốc, trâm vối or vối rừng in Vietnamese. The common name "water berry" is also used for other species of Syzygium. This tree occurs along streambanks from KwaZulu-Natal northward into Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It grows in forest margins, in bush, in open grassy areas, and sometimes in high elevation country. This tree has a wide range of documented uses. Its fleshy fruit has a slightly acidic flavor, and is eaten by children, monkeys, bush-babies, bats, and birds. The berries are sometimes used to make an alcoholic drink. Powdered bark from the tree is used as a fish poison. In central Africa, the tree is used as a remedy for stomach ache and diarrhoea, and it is also used to treat respiratory ailments and tuberculosis.
