The Jamun (Syzygium cumini), also known as Jambul or Java plum, is an evergreen tree native to India. It's a tall tree, reaching up to 30 meters in height, and can live for over a century. The tree has a light greyish, smooth bark on the upper parts, which becomes dark grey and rough at the base. Its leaves are glossy, oblong-elliptic, and have a turpentine-like aroma. The tree produces small, fragrant white flowers followed by oblong, ovoid fruits that are green when young, turning pinkish and finally a shining black-purple when ripe. The fruit has a sweet, slightly acidic, and spicy flavor.
Here's a more detailed description:
Appearance: The Jamun tree is a tall, evergreen tree with a dense crown. The bark is smooth and light grey on the upper part of the trunk, becoming darker and rougher at the base.
Leaves: The leaves are shiny, elliptic-oblong, and have a distinctive aroma.
Flowers: The tree produces small, fragrant, white flowers.
Fruit: The fruit is an oblong, ovoid berry, green when young, turning pinkish and then a deep purple-black when ripe. It has a unique sweet, slightly acidic, and spicy flavor.
Wood: The wood is strong and water-resistant, making it suitable for various applications like railway sleepers and well installations.
Growth: It's a slow-growing tree that can adapt to various soil conditions, including poor and degraded lands.
Climate: The tree thrives in tropical and subtropical climates and is relatively drought tolerant.
Cultivation: While the fruits are popular and sell at a high price, Jamun is not typically grown as an orchard tree but rather as an avenue tree or windbreak.
Varieties: There are different varieties of Jamun, including a white-fruited variety.
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