Syzygium smithii
Common name
lilly pilly, monkey apple
Synonyms
Acmena smithii, Eugenia smithii
Family
Myrtaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
SYZSMI
Habitat
Terrestrial.
Features
Tree (6-15 m high in cultivation). Lvs very aromatic when crushed; petiole usually c. 5mm long. Lamina 4-12-(15) x 2-5-(8) cm, ovate or elliptic-ovate, coriaceous, glossy above, dotted with glands below; veins parallel and prominent below; base cuneate or narrow-cuneate; apex obtusely cuspidate or acuminate. Fls shortly pedicellate. Hypanthium (including pseudopedicel) 3-5 mm long; calyx lobes 4, deciduous. Petals 4, c. 2mm long, forming a small calyptrum, whitish. Stamens to c.3mm long whitish. Fr. subglobose to broad-oblong or obovoid, often slightly flattened, usually 1-1.7-(3) cm diam., pinkish mauve or white, with apical cavity. Seed large. (Webb et. al. 1988).
Similar taxa
Tree (6-15m high in cultivation); leaves very aromatic when crushed, 4-12cm long x 2-5cm wide, glossy above, dotted with glands below, veins parallel and prominent below; petals whitish, about 2mm long; fruit broad-oblong or ovoid, often slightly flattened, usually 1-1.7cm diameter, pinkish mauve or white; large seed (Webb et al., 1988).
Flowering
October, November, December, January
Flower colours
Cream, White
Life cycle
Perennial. Long-lived plant. Birds, dispersed by kereru from townships, farms and orchard hedges (DoC, 1996).
Threats
This taxon may be prone to Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an invasive fungus which threatens myrtle species - learn more myrtlerust.org.nz
Year naturalised
1982
Origin
E. Australia - was, until recently, known as Acmena smithii
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Tolerances
Able to establish in existing forest under low light conditions (DoC, 1996)
Etymology
syzygium: From the Greek syzygos ‘joined’, referring to the paired leaves
smithii: James Edward Smith (1757-1858), who gave it the illegitimate homonymous name Eugenia elliptica