Syzygium luehmannii
Encyclopedia
Syzygium luehmannii is a medium sized coastal rainforest
tree. Common names include Riberry, Small Leaved Lilli Pilli, Cherry Satinash, Cherry Alder, or Clove Lilli Pilli.
The habitat is Australian riverine, littoral
, subtropical or tropical rainforest . It grows on volcanic soils or deep sandy soils between the Macleay River
in New South Wales
to near Cairns in tropical Queensland
. It is commonly grown as an ornamental tree, and for its fruit, known as a Riberry.
Flowers form in November or December. They are in small panicles at the ends of branchlets, half the length of the leaves or less. The white or cream petals form in fours or fives, 1.5 mm long. Stamens 2 to 5 mm long.
, known as a Riberry, growing to 13 mm long, covering a single seed, 4 mm in diameter. Seed germination is unreliable, complete after 25 days, however cuttings strike readily. Fruit are eaten by Australasian Figbird
and Emu
.
since the early 1980’s, and is commercially cultivated on a small-scale basis.
The fruit is most commonly used to make a distinctively flavoured jam, and is also used in sauces, syrups and confectionery. The riberry plant is also very popular as a garden ornamental and street tree. It is easily maintained as a smaller tree by light pruning.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
tree. Common names include Riberry, Small Leaved Lilli Pilli, Cherry Satinash, Cherry Alder, or Clove Lilli Pilli.
The habitat is Australian riverine, littoral
Littoral
The littoral zone is that part of a sea, lake or river that is close to the shore. In coastal environments the littoral zone extends from the high water mark, which is rarely inundated, to shoreline areas that are permanently submerged. It always includes this intertidal zone and is often used to...
, subtropical or tropical rainforest . It grows on volcanic soils or deep sandy soils between the Macleay River
Macleay River
The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...
in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
to near Cairns in tropical Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. It is commonly grown as an ornamental tree, and for its fruit, known as a Riberry.
Description
Occasionally reaching 30 metres in height and a 90 cm in trunk diameter. The tree's crown is dense with small leaves, above a tall straight trunk. Large trees are buttressed at the base. The bark is red brown, light grey or pinkish grey with soft papery scales.Leaves and flowers
The small, glossy, lance-shaped leaves are pink/red when young. They are opposite, simple, entire, lanceolate to ovate. 4 to 5 cm long drawn out to a long prominent point. Leaf stalks 2 to 3 mm long.Flowers form in November or December. They are in small panicles at the ends of branchlets, half the length of the leaves or less. The white or cream petals form in fours or fives, 1.5 mm long. Stamens 2 to 5 mm long.
Fruit and germination
The fruit matures from December to February, being a pear shaped red berryBerry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
, known as a Riberry, growing to 13 mm long, covering a single seed, 4 mm in diameter. Seed germination is unreliable, complete after 25 days, however cuttings strike readily. Fruit are eaten by Australasian Figbird
Australasian Figbird
The Australasian Figbird is a conspicuous medium-sized passerine bird native to a wide range of wooded habitats in northern and eastern Australia, southern Papua New Guinea, and the Kai Islands in Indonesia. It was formerly considered a subspecies of S...
and Emu
Emu
The Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the largest bird native to Australia and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius. It is the second-largest extant bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. There are three subspecies of Emus in Australia...
.
Uses and cultivation
The tree commonly only reaches 8-10 metres in cultivation. The berry has a tart, cranberry-like flavor, that has a hint of cloves. It has been popular as a gourmet bushfoodBushfood
Bushfood traditionally relates to any food native to Australia and used as sustenance by the original inhabitants, the Australian Aborigines, but it is a reference to any native fauna/flora that is used for culinary and/or medicinal purposes regardless of which continent or culture it originates...
since the early 1980’s, and is commercially cultivated on a small-scale basis.
The fruit is most commonly used to make a distinctively flavoured jam, and is also used in sauces, syrups and confectionery. The riberry plant is also very popular as a garden ornamental and street tree. It is easily maintained as a smaller tree by light pruning.
External links
- CSIRO plant profiles http://www.cse.csiro.au/research/nativefoods/crops/riberry.htm