Water apple

Water apple is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

• Syzygium aqueum, a species of brush cherry tree. Its common names include water apple, watery rose apple, and bell fruit. This species is a tropical fruit tree native to Malesia, a region which includes Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The fruit is similar in taste and texture to an apple, and has a slight rose scent.

• Syzygium samarangense, a species of brush cherry tree. Its common names include wax apple, love apple, java apple, royal apple, bell fruit, Jamaican apple, water apple, mountain apple, cloud apple, wax jambu, rose apple, and bell fruit. This species is native to the Greater Sunda Islands, Malay Peninsula and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but has been introduced throughout the tropics.

Description

The water apple is a tropical tree growing to 12 m tall, with evergreen leaves 10–25 cm long and 5–10 cm broad. The flowers are white, 2.5 cm diameter, with four petals and numerous stamens. The fruit is a bell-shaped, edible berry, with colors ranging from white, pale green, or green to red, purple, or crimson, to deep purple or even black, 4–6 cm long in wild plants.

Cultivation and uses

The water apple is a common fruit in markets throughout Indonesia and the Philippines. The fruits are also commonly used in salads, or cooked in certain dishes. In Indonesia, they are made into a refreshing drink similar to lemonade. The tree is cultivated for its wood in Java and is also used in homeopathy as a treatment for a variety of ailments.

See also

• List of culinary fruits
• List of plants known as apple