Cook Islands Biodiversity & Natural Heritage
 

Syzygium jambos

Ka‘ika Papa‘ā

Rose Apple

Multimedia & Additional Resources

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General Information

COMMON NAMES: Rose Apple, Malabar Plum, Jumbu, Malay Rose-Apple; German Rosenapfel

TRADITIONAL NAMES: Ka‘ika Papa‘ā (RR MK MT AK), Ka‘ika Varāni (MG), Kaika (AT); Other Polynesian - Seasea Pālagi (SAM)

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE se.Asia - Indonesia

COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Naturalised; Land, lowlands - mountains (+++) (mid-elev.)

SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Food (Fruit 1+); Invasive - moderate (Rarotonga - inland)

KEY FEATURES: Multi-trunked tree to 12m. LEAVES opposite, narrow-oval, to 20x5cm, glossy dark green, tapering each end, tip sharp; stalk thick, 1cm. FLOWERS clusters; each large, spiky, cream, to 5cmØ. FRUIT round, to 5cmØ, pale yellow to pink-yellow; flesh thin and mild, tasting of rose water; seed large, loose, rattling.

Enlarged Image of 'Syzygium jambos'

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea: Present
RR 
MG
AT
MK
MT
AK
PL
TK
MN
+++
+++
++
+
++
P
-
-
-

Northern Group: -
TN 
MH
RK
PK
NS
SW
-
-
-
-
-
-

Key to Symbols

Scientific Taxonomy

Syzygium jambos Linnaeus
SYNONYMS: Eugenia jambos [incl. TC/GW]

TAXONOMY: PLANTAE; ANTHOPHYTA (=Angiospermae); MAGNOLIOPSIDA (=Dicotyledones); ROSIDAE; Myrtales; MYRTACEAE

More Information

GENERAL NOTE: Fruit occasionally eaten.

Vouchers & References

Vouchers:
None Recorded.

References:
p.975 Wagner et al.- Flowering Plants of Hawaii
p.637 Neal - In Gardens of Hawaii
p.1092 Hortus 3rd
p.1136 Royal Hort. Soc. Index of Garden Plants
p.460 Tropica
p.3/356 A.C.Smith - Flora Vitiensis Nova
p.280 R* Cheeseman - Flora of Rarotonga
p.81 Wilder - Flora of Rarotonga
p.364d Whistler - Ethnobotany of the Cook Islands
p.34 McCormack/Kunzle - Rarotonga's Mountain Tracks and Plants

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD06a

Web Resources

Citation Information

McCormack, Gerald (2007) Cook Islands Biodiversity Database, Version 2007.2. Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at http://cookislands.bishopmuseum.org. Copy citation to system clipboard
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