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Syzygium myrtifolium (Roxb.) Walp.

Family Name:	Myrtaceae
Synonyms:	Syzygium sinubanense, Syzygium campanulatum var. longistylum, Eugenia parva, Syzygium campanellum, Eugenia myrtifolia, Eugenia oleina, Eugenia sinubanensis, Syzygium campanulatum
Common Name:	Kelat Oil, Kelat Paya, Red Lip, 红楠木

Full Sun

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly-Attracting Plant

Native to Singapore

Suitable for Bonsai

Coastal Plant

Suitable for Roadsides

Fragrant Plant

Ornamental Leaves

Shrub

Tree

Syzygium campanulatum - ripe fruits & dehisced flowers

Syzygium campanulatum - used as hedge in landscape

Syzygium campanulatum - reddish-orange young leaves

Syzygium myrtifolium - double-trunk of standalone tree

Syzygium myrtifolium - single trunk of standalone tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m), Shrubby (1m-5m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Shrubby
Maximum Height	2 m to 20 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Northeast India, Myanmar, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Coastal Forest, Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Riverine)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree with a dense bushy crown, up to 20 m tall.
Foliage	Its opposite, stalked leaves have leaf blades that are elliptic to lanceolate, about 7.5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. Young leaves emerge reddish, turning red-brown then green.
Flowers	Its powderpuff-like flowers are cream to white in colour, borne on a branched inflorescence, up to 4 cm long.

Fruit	Its spherical to ellipsoid fruits are dark purple or black berries, about 9 mm wide.
Habitat	It grows in lowland primary and secondary forests, in coastal forests, near freshwater swamps and along riverbanks.
Similar	Same form and usage as the relatively new cultivar or variety tentatively known as Syzygium myrtifolium cultivar (dark red leaves), or named as 'Katsura' by certain Malaysian suppliers. This form produces dark red young foliar flush, as well as bright pink inflorescences.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are insect-pollinated, and its fruits are eaten by birds.
Cultivation	Hardy plant, tolerates poor soils and salt spray, relatively pest-free. Does not tolerate drought. Tolerates partial shade, but exhibits slower growth, as well as sparser and less intense flush colouration. Takes pruning very well, can be trimmed regularly into various shapes, after which the plant sends out new foliar flush all over the pruned surfaces. Sensitive to transplanting, with fairly high mortality rate, transplanted specimens tend to shed leaves and require a period of time to recover from shock. Propagate by stem cuttings, air-layering or seeds.
Etymology	Genus epithet 'Syzygium' derived from 'syzygos' (Greek for 'joined'), alluding to the opposite paired leaves. Species epithet 'myrtifolium' means myrtle-leaved, describing how the plant's foliar shape and texture resemble the leaves of Myrtus.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	It is suitable for planting along streetscapes, parks and gardens as a tree or as a dense hedge. Matured fruits may cause stains when dropped. Having a short distance between tree and pavement will minimise staining.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Flowers, Foliage) (Day)
Landscape Uses	General, Roadside Tree / Palm, Coastal, Riverine, Hedge / Screening, Topiary, Bonsai, Container Planting, Parks & Gardens

Thematic Landscaping	Naturalistic Garden, Formal Garden
SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird Attracting (Fruits), Butterfly Food Plant
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Lots of Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Moist Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting, Marcotting, Air-Layering

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Smooth, Glossy / Shiny

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Opposite
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot)
Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) Remarks	Red, Orange

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root, Fibrous Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	White, Cream / Off-White
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial
Flowering Period	Rarely
Flowering Habit	Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Red, Black
Mature Fruit Texture(s)	Glossy / Shiny
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

Fruit Type

Image Repository

Images

Others

Master ID	1863
Species ID	3156
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.