About Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry
Syzygium samarangense is a tropical evergreen tree that grows to 12 meters (39 feet) tall. Its elliptical leaves have rounded bases, measure 10โ25 cm (4โ10 in) long and 5โ10 cm (2โ4 in) broad, and release an aromatic scent when crushed. The tree has a relatively short trunk, and a wide, open crown that begins low on the trunk. Its bark is pinkish-gray and flakes easily. Flowers are white to yellowish-white, 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with four petals and numerous stamens. They grow in panicles of 3 to 30 flowers near the tips of branches. The tree produces edible, bell-shaped berry fruits that come in a range of colors: white, pale green, green, red, purple, crimson, deep purple, or even black. In wild plants, fruits grow 4โ6 cm (1.6โ2.4 in) long, and have four fleshy calyx lobes at the tip. Fruits have thin skin, white spongy flesh, and contain one or two rounded seeds that do not grow larger than 0.8 cm (0.3 in). Flowers and fruits do not only grow from leaf axils; they can develop from almost any point on the surface of the trunk and branches. A mature mature tree is a heavy bearer, and can produce up to 700 fruits per crop. When ripe, fruits puff outwards, with a slight concavity in the middle of the underside of the bell shape. Healthy wax apples (the common name for this fruit) have a light natural sheen. Despite the common name, ripe wax apples only resemble apples externally in color. They do not taste like apples, and lack both apples' fragrance and density. Their flavor is similar to a snow pear, and their liquid-to-flesh ratio matches that of a watermelon. Unlike apples or watermelons, wax apple flesh has a very loose texture. The very center of the fruit holds a seed surrounded by a cotton candy-like mesh. This mesh is edible but has no flavor. The color of the fruit's juice varies by cultivar, and can range from purple to completely colorless.
