Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels

Glabrous evergreen tree or large shrub, 6–25 m tall with spreading crown; outer bark pale yellow brown, white or grey, densely thinly flaky (described as rough or smooth); inner bark rough, thick and fibrous.. Leaves shiny, mostly very regularly oblong-elliptic but can be elliptic, oblanceolate-elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 6–17(–20) cm long, 2.5–8.5 cm wide, acuminate to a rounded tip which is often down-curved, cuneate at the base; ± coriaceous; main lateral nerves numerous and close, ± 40; petiole 0.8–2 cm long.. Cymes terminal and axillary, or mostly lateral borne in the axils of fallen leaves on older stems, about 10 cm long; flowers drying pale orange-brown.. Calyx often drying orange-brown, obconic, 4–5 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, very obscurely 4(–5)-lobed, practically truncate, rim orange.. Petals white, elliptic, 4 mm long, 3 mm wide.. Stamens white, 4–6 mm long with very slender filaments.. Style 5–6 mm long.. Fruits dark purple-red, broadly ellipsoid, oblong or subglobose, often somewhat curved, 2.4–3.5(–5) cm long, 2 cm wide (2x1 cm dry), crowned by 2 mm diameter calyx-rim, 1-seeded (rarely 2–5-seeded or seedless in some varieties); pulp white, acid.

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. They are common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines, India and Indonesia. The plant prefers a well composted soil which is moist and well drained. It needs a protected position and prefers part shade. It is drought and frost tender. In valleys in the Himalayas trees grow up to 1300 m above sea level. In the tropics they grow to 2000 m altitude. Trees can tolerate some flooding. It requires a good rainfall or adequate watering. It can grow on alkaline soils, saline soils and marshy lands. Once established trees can stand strong winds. It grows in Miombo woodland in Africa. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In XTBG Yunnan.

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. Rubbing it with salt is sometimes used for poorer fruit. Or they are soaked in salt water. Fruit are also used for vinegar (unripe fruit) and for wine (ripe fruit). They can be used for making jelly or jam. The young leaves are eaten.

It is grown from fresh seed. Seeds normally germinate well within 2-3 weeks. Seed can only be stored for about a month. It can also be grown from tip cuttings. Trees can be cut back and will regrow or they can be heavily pruned into a hedge. It is best to select better quality fruit then grow them from cuttings or by air layering. For air layering, using growth substances is recommended. Budding can also be used. Seedlings vary in fruit quality. Almost seedless fruit can be selected. Seeds should be sown 4-5 cm deep and putting them in pots makes transplanting easiest. Some seeds produce several shoots or seedlings and the ones produced by cell tissue breed more true. Trees are planted 10 m apart. Budded trees are smaller and can be 8 m apart. Trees can be pruned to give one main stem and 4-5 main branches. Flowers are cross pollinated by honey bees so keeping bee hives in the orchard helps fruit sett.