FoI
Jamun
Share Foto info
Jamun
ative Photo: Thingnam Girija
Common name: Java plum, Jamun • Hindi: जामुन Jamun • Kannada: ನೇಱಿಲ್ Neril, ನೀಱಲು Neeralu, ನೀರಲ Neerala, ನೇಱಳೆ Nerale, ನೇರಳೆ Nerale • Manipuri: ꯖꯥꯝ Jam • Tamil: நாகை Nagai • Nepali: जामुन Jaamun, कालो जामुन Kaalo Jaamun, फ़णिर Phanir, जाम्बु Jaambu, जमुना Jamunaa • Oriya: ଜାମୁ କୋଳି Jammu Koli • Telugu: నేరేడు Neredu • Mizo: Hmuipui, Lenhmui • Tangkhul: Chomshathei • Santali: ᱠᱳᱰᱮ Kode
Botanical name: Syzygium cumini    Family: Myrtaceae (Bottlebrush family)

The evergreen jamun plant is originally from Indonesia and India. Indian mythology describes the Indian subcontinent as an island, 'situated in the centre of the world', called Jambudweep. Because of a majority of Jamun (black berry) trees, this island was named as Jambudweep. An evergreen tropical tree, 50 to 100 ft. tall, with oblong opposite leaves that are smooth, glossy and having a terpentine smell. Jamun has fragrant white flowers in branched clusters at stem tips and purplish-black oval edible berries. The leaves are antibacterial, and are used for strengthning the teeth and gums. The fruit and seeds are sweet, acrid, sour, tonic, and cooling, and are used in diabities, diarrhoea and ringworm. The bark is astringent, sweet sour, diuretic, digestive and anthelmintic.

Identification credit: Radhika Vathsan Photographed in Hauz Rani City Forest, Delhi.

• Is this flower misidentified? If yes,