1009

 Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels 

Synonym	:	Syzygium cumini var. tsoi (Merr. & Chun) H.T.Chang & R.H.Miao
Family	:	Myrtaceae
Local name	:	English- . Black plum, Malayalam- Njaval
Flowering and fruiting period	:	December-April
Distribution	:	Indo-Malesia
Distribution in kerala	:	All Districts
Habitat	:	Evergreen forests
Uses		The bark is acrid, sweet, digestive, astringent to the bowels, anthelmintic and used for the treatment of sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, thirst,
Key botanical characters: Medium sized trees; bark white, light pink inside. Leaves to 18 x 8 cm, ovate, oblong, long-acuminate at apex, acute at base; nerves many, close, shining above; petiole 1.5-2 cm long. Panicles to 10 cm across, on leafless branchlets. Flowers 6-9 mm across, subsessile; calyx tube 3 mm broad, turbinate; filaments 7 mm long. Berry 10 x 7 mm, obovoid, deep blue .