Indonesian bay leaf
| Indonesian bay leaf | ||||||||||||
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Indonesian bay leaf ( Syzygium polyanthum ) |
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| Syzygium polyanthum | ||||||||||||
| ( Wight ) Walp. |
The Indonesian bay leaf ( Syzygium polyanthum ), also called salam leaf , is a species of plant within the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). It is native to Southeast Asia and is used as a medicinal and aromatic plant.
description
Appearance and leaf
Syzygium polyanthum grows as a medium-sized tree that can reach heights of up to 30 meters and trunk diameters of up to 60 centimeters. The treetop is dense. The cracked and scaly bark is gray. The constantly against arranged on the branches leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petiole is up to 12 millimeters long. The simple, bald leaf blade is elongated-elliptical, narrow-elliptical to lanceolate with a length of 5 to 16 centimeters and a width of 2.5 to 7 centimeters. On the underside of the leaf there are clearly recognizable six to eleven pairs of side nerves and a clear intramarginal nerve (runs along the margin of the spread). The leaf blade is dotted glandular.
Inflorescence, flower and fruit
Usually below, sometimes in the leaf axils, are the 2 to 8 cm long, paniculate inflorescences , which contain many flowers.
The seated, hermaphrodite, fragrant flowers are radial symmetry and four-fold with a double flower envelope . The four approximately 4 mm long sepals are cup-shaped with four broad, durable calyx teeth. The four free, white petals are 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters long. The many stamens stand together in four groups and are about 3 millimeters long. The orange-yellow discus is square.
When ripe, the berries are dark red to purple-black , with a diameter of up to 12 millimeters, flattened-spherical to spherical and contain only one seed.
ecology
Syzygium polyanthum flowers at around three years of age. Flowers and fruits can be present all year round. The flowers can be kept for four to seven days. The pollination is usually by beetles and butterflies ( Entomophilie ).
Occurrence
The Southeast Asian distribution area of Syzygium polyanthum extends from Indochina to Malesia . There are natural sites in Myanmar , Thailand , Brunei , Malaysia , Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra).
Syzygium polyanthum is widespread and common in places. It occurs mainly in the tropical lowlands up to altitudes in Java up to 1000 meters, in Sabah up to 1200 meters and in Thailand up to 1300 meters. It thrives as undergrowth as primary and secondary forests , but also in thickets, bamboo forests and teak plantations .
In some tropical areas, Syzygium polyanthum is an invasive plant .
Taxonomy
It was first described in 1831 under the name ( Basionym ) Eugenia polyantha by Robert Wight in Prodromus florae peninsulae Indiae orientalis , Volume 2, p. 17. The new combination to Syzygium polyanthum was made in 1843 by Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers in Repertorium Botanices Systematicae , 2, p 180. Other synonyms for Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. are: Myrtus cymosa flower nom. illeg., Syzygium cymosum Korth. nom. illeg., Eugenia microbotrya Miq. , Eugenia pamatensis Miq. , Syzygium micranthum flower ex Miq. , Eugenia junghuhniana Miq. , Eugenia lucidula Miq. , Eugenia nitida Duthier nom. illeg., Eugenia atropunctata C.B.Rob. nom. illeg., Eugenia lambii Elmer , Eugenia holmanii Elmer , Eugenia resinosa Gagnep. , Syzygium microbotryum (Miq.) Masam. , Syzygium pamatense (Miq.) Masam. , Eugenia polyantha var. Sessilis M.R.Hend. , Syzygium polyanthum var. Sessile (MRHend.) IMTurner .
use
The aromatic leaves (called salam) are fresh or dried (they turn brown when dried) in Southeast Asian cuisine, almost only in Malaysia and Indonesia, as a condiment to meat, fish, rice and vegetables. It is comparable to bay leaves in European cuisine. The leaves are added early in the cooking process and remain in the dish for the entire duration of the cooking time, as the taste is slow to develop. They have a weak, slightly aromatic-tart taste, which should develop properly especially when frying in hot oil. The ripe fruits are edible, but slightly astringent .
In folk medicine , extracts from leaves and bark are used against diarrhea. Crushed leaves, bark, and roots are used superficially against stings.
The bark contains tannins and is used for tanning and coloring , especially fishing nets and bamboo mats, which turn them brown-red or later black through a mud bath.
The wood of Syzygium polyanthum , like that of other species, has the trade name "Kelat". It's medium difficulty and is tough. The wood is used to build houses and make furniture.
See also
swell
- Datasheet at AgroForestryTree Database . (Section description)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k data sheet at AgroForestryTree Database . last accessed on May 22, 2013.
- ^ A b Syzygium polyanthum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ↑ Data sheet at Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk = PIER.
- ^ Robert Wight: Illustrations of Indian botany: or figures illustrative of each of the natural orders of Indian plants, described in the author's prodromus florae peninsulae Indiae orientalis , 1850 at biodiversitylibrary.org .
- ↑ Syzygium polyanthum at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed May 21, 2013.
- ↑ Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Syzygium polyanthum. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ↑ a b Indonesian bay leaf on Gernot Katzer's spice pages, last accessed on May 22, 2013.
