Syzygium luehmannii

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids > Malvids >  Myrtaceae > Syzygium luehmannii

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:               Clove lilli pilli  

• Common names also include riberry, small leaved lilly pilly, cherry satinash, or cherry alder

Conservation status:    ...

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• Flowers form in November or December

• They are in small panicles at the ends of branchlets, half the length of the leaves or less

• The white or cream petals form in fours or fives, 1.5 mm long

• The stamina are 2 to 5 mm long

Fruit:                         

• The fruit matures from December to February, being a pear-shaped red berry, known as a riberry, growing to 13 mm long, covering a single seed, 4 mm in diameter

• Seed germination is unreliable, complete after 25 days; however, cuttings strike readily

• The fruit is eaten by the Australasian figbird, emu, and flying fox (pteropus)

Leaves:         

• The small, glossy, lance-shaped leaves are a shiny green when mature, but pink/red when young

• They are opposite, simple, entire, lanceolate to ovate, 4 to 5 cm long, drawn out to a long prominent point

• The leaf stalks are 2 to 3 mm long

Stem & branches: 

• Occasionally reaching 30 m in height and 90 cm in trunk diameter

• The tree's crown is dense with small leaves, above a tall straight trunk

• Large trees are buttressed at the base

• The bark is red brown, light grey or pinkish grey with soft papery scales

Roots:         

Habit:        

• It is a medium-sized coastal rainforest tree  

Habitat:   

• The habitat is Australian riverine, littoral, subtropical or tropical rainforest

• It grows on volcanic soils or deep sandy soils 

Distribution:                  

• Native to Australia

• It grows between the Macleay River in NSW to near Cairns in tropical Queensland

Additional notes:     

• It is commonly grown as an ornamental tree and for its fruit, known as a riberry

• Cultivation

  • The tree commonly only reaches 8–10 metres in cultivation

  • The berry has a tart, cranberry-like flavour, with a hint of cloves

  • It has been popular as a gourmet bush food since the early 1980s and is commercially cultivated on a small-scale basis

  • It is easily maintained as a smaller tree by light pruning

• Use

  • The fruit is most commonly used to make a distinctively flavoured jam and is also used in sauces, syrups and confectionery

  • It can also be eaten and enjoyed straight off the tree

  • The riberry plant is also very popular as a garden ornamental and street tree

Sources of information:

• (2023)