Syzygium cumini

Botanical Name – Syzygium cumini

Common Name – Jambulah, Meghamodini (Sanskrit) Jamun, Jambhul, Jamdi (Hindi), Jambool (Marathi), Nerale (Kannada), Jambu (Gujrati)

Habit

• Large evergreen Tree
• Fast growing
  
  

Habitat

• Moist deciduous, Semi-green and ever-green forests
• Near streams rivers
  
  

Distribution – Throughout India

Specific Properties

• A very versatile plant, grows throughout India from Himalayas to southern India
• Drought tolerant
• Tolerates prolonged flooding
  
  

Ecology

• Ecologically important tree in all parts of India
• Both frugivorous and insectivorous birds, bats, macaques, mammals-sloth bear, porcupine, mongoose, civets feed on jamun
• Tree attracts a lot of honeybees
• Larval host plant for Large Oakblue butterfly
  
  

Uses

• Fruit eaten raw or made into jams, sherbet, jellies, juice
• Seeds used in treatment of diabetes, dysentery, cold, cough, fever, skin problems and all types of ulcers. Dried and grounded seeds are used as beverage (like coffee)
• Bark is used to treat wounds, enlargement of the spleen, diarrhoea, dysentery, mouth ulcers, sore throat, bronchitis, asthma, thirst, biliousness. It strengthens gums and purifies blood
• Essential oil is extracted from leaves
• Shade-provider tree for crops like bananas, coffee and cocoa
• In agroforestry, planted on farm bund for windbreak
• Yields tannin, dye
  
  

Propagation

• Seeds