Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

189. Manzana malaya, Malay-apple
Blalay-apple, an exotic tree occasionally planted
for ornament, shade, and windbreaks, is identified
by : (1) an erect stem and dense conical or columnar
crown of dark green foliage; (2) opposite,
large, oblon mostly dark green, leathery leaves,
short-stalkef: with blades 7-12? inches long and 3-5
inches broad, long-pointed at apex and shortpointed
at base; (3) pretty purplish-red or rqsepurple
flowers composed of a mass of spreading
stamens 2?&3 inches across, like pins in a pin cushion,
several clustered together aIong twigs back of
leaves and hidden in crown; and (4) red (sometimes
pink or whitish) pear-shaped fruits 2-3
inches long and 1-2 inches in diameter, with 4
sepals at apex and the white, slightly sour edible
flesh with applelike flavor.
A small to medium-sized evergreen tree 15-40 feet
tall and 3-8 inches in trunk diameter, or larger.
The bark is li 11t bromn, smoothish to slightly fissured.
Inner 6 ark is brownish streaked and slightly
astringent. The twigs are light bromn, green
when young, with slightly raised leaf scars.
Petioles are 1/3-3/q inch long, stout, p n
brown. Leaf blades are slightly curved upward on
both sides of midrib, the lateral veins slightly
sunken and connected near margins, the upper sur-
face dark pen or green :md usually slightly
shiny, and the lower surface dull light green.
Scattered minute gland dots are visible with a lens
when the blade is held toward the light.
Several to many odorless flowers are borne in
clusters 4-5 inches across, almost stalkless on a
short branched green lateral axis (cyme or pani-
cle). The flower has a funnel-shaped, light pur-
plish-green base (hypanthium) s/4 inch long and
x6 inch wide at top, enclosing the ovary and ex-
tending as a broad tube qie inch beyond. There
are 4 broad, rounded, thickened, persistent sepals
l/s-3/lo inch long; 4 spreading, rounded, concave,
purplish-red petals lh inch long; the mass of sta-
mens 1-1% inches long, purplish red with yellow
dot anthers; and pistil composed of inferior
2-celled ovary and persistent purplish-red straight
style about 1% inches long. As the stamens fall,
the ground under the tree becomes a. purplish-red
carpet.
The berries have thin soft skin, crisp juicy flesh
wit11 pleasant flavor, and 1 large rounded light
MYRTLE FAMILY (MYRTACEAE)
to
Eugenia malaccensis L.*
brown seed about % inch in diameter. Seeds recorded
as 06 to a pound. Flowering and fruiting
nearly tllrough the year.
Tho sap\rood is light brown. The mood is described
as hard, tough, very heavy, but tending to
warp, and difficult to work. The tree is not sufficiently
common for its wood to be much used in
Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.
JITidely cultivated elsewhere for the fruits,
which are eaten raw or also cooked or preserved
or used for wine, and for ornament. One author
places this among the most beautiful flowering
trees of the tropics. It is said that the slightly
sour stamens can be prepared into salads. Easily
propagated from seed and of moderately rapid
gro\vth.
Malay-apple was introduced into Jamaica in
1793 from Tahiti by Captain Bligh of the British
ship Providence. This, along with breadfruit, was
one of several trees brought in to provide inexpensive
food for the slaves.
Limited chiefly to urban areas in Puerto Rico,
planted around buildings but occasionally also for
windbreaks in -rural areas on the moist coast.
Also in St. Croix.
RANGE.-Native probably of Malay Archipelago
or >Inlay Peninsula. Widely planted through the
tropics, including TITest Indies and continental
tropical America. Uncommon in southern
Florida.
OTHER COXMON ~~~~s.-pornarrosa
malaya,
ohia (Puerto Rico) ; cajuilito sulim6n (Dominican
Republic) ; pomarrosa de Malaca, pera (Cuba) ;
maraii6n japonQs (El Salvador) ; manzana (Costa
Rica) ; maraii6n de Curaqao, manzana de Faiti
(Panama) ; pomarrosa de Malaca (Colombia) ;
pomagiis, pomagada (Venezuela) ; Malay-apple,
ohin (United States, English) ; Otaheite-apple
(Jamaica, British West Indies) ; pomerac, pomme
malac (Trinidad) ; French - cashew (British
Guiana) ; jamelac (French) ; pomme de Tahiti,
polnrno de Malaisie (Guadeloupe) ; pornmerak
(Surinam) ; jambeiro, jambo encarnado (Brazil).
BOTANICAL GYNONYM~.~~~~OSU malaccensis
(L.) DC., Syzygir~m nzalaccense (L.) Merrill &
Perry.