Syzygium cordatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Syzygium cordatum |
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| Hute (Syzygium cordatum) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Syzygium
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| Species: |
cordatum
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The Syzygium cordatum is a beautiful evergreen tree that loves water. It can grow quite tall, reaching heights of 8 to 15 meters (about 26 to 49 feet). You often find this tree growing near streams, at the edges of forests, or in wet, swampy areas.
Its leaves are shaped like ovals or circles. They are a pretty bluish-green on top and a lighter green underneath. When the leaves are young, they have a reddish color. The tree produces white to pinkish flowers that smell nice. These flowers grow in clusters and have many soft, fluffy stamens. They also make a lot of sweet nectar. The tree usually flowers from August to November. After the flowers, it grows oval-shaped berries that turn red to dark-purple when they are ready to eat.
This tree has many common names. In Afrikaans, it's called waterbessie. In Shona, people call it undoni, umSwi, umJoni, or hute. In Vietnamese, it's known as trâm mốc, trâm vối, or vối rừng. The name "Water berry" is also used for other types of Syzygium trees.
Contents
Where Does the Water Berry Tree Grow?
The water berry tree is found in many parts of southern Africa. It grows along streambanks from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, heading north into Zimbabwe and Mozambique. You can see it at the edges of forests, in bushy areas, or sometimes in open grassy fields and even in high country.
What Are the Uses of the Water Berry Tree?
This tree is very useful to both people and animals. Its fruit is juicy and has a slightly sour taste. Many animals enjoy eating the berries, including monkeys, bush-babies, bats, and various birds. Kids also love to eat the fresh fruit!
Sometimes, people use the berries to make an alcoholic drink. The bark of the tree can be ground into a powder. This powder has been used as a way to catch fish. In central Africa, the tree is known for its medicinal uses. People use it as a natural remedy for stomach aches and diarrhea. It is also used to help treat breathing problems and even tuberculosis.
Images for kids
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Flowers of the water berry tree
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Ripe fruit of the water berry tree
See also
In Spanish: Syzygium cordatum para niños
