Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Myrtaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

High risk, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific)).
Reject, score: 9 (Go to the risk assessment (U.S. Florida)).

Other Latin names:  Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce

Common name(s): [more details]

Chamorro: duhat

Chinese: wu mo

English: Java plum, jambolan plum, jambool, jambu

Fijian: kavika ni India

French: faux pistachier, jamélongue, jamblon, jambolanier, jamelongue, jamelonguier, jamelonier, prunier de java

Hindi: jaman, jammun

Mangarevan: pistas

Maori (Cook Islands): ka‘ika, kaika, pītāti, paramu, pisat, pistāita, pistati

Palauan: mesegerak, mesekerrák, mesekerrak, mesigerak

Samoan: nonu fi‘afi‘a

Spanish: guayabo pesgua, yambolana

Tahitian: pistas

Habit:  tree

Description:  "A tree to 20 tall with scaly gray bark; leaves opposite, dark green, 5-15 cm long, 2.5-8 cm wide, acuminate, elliptic-oblong, narrow; petioles 1-2.5 cm long; flowers in cymose clusters, axillary or in axils of fallen leaves, white or pink, 12 mm wide; calyx 4-6 mm wide, up to 8 mm long; petals caducous; stamens many (c. 50), exserted, white or pinkish, to 7 mm long; fruit oblong, 2-2.5 cm long, deep purplish-black, juicy; seed 1, large, green" (Stone, 1970; p. 447).

Habitat/ecology:  This large evergreen tree forms a dense cover, excluding all other species. Although it is not an aggressive invader of undisturbed forest like the closely related roseapple (Syzygium jambos), it prevents the reestablishment of native lowland forest. It is found in dry to mesic and more rarely wet lowland areas up to 700 m in Hawai‘i (C. W. Smith, 1985; p. 189), up to 1200 m in French Polynesia.  "Invades mesic valleys, especially along stream banks, and provides deep shade"  (Motooka et al., 2003).  In Fiji, "cultivated near sea level or perhaps rarely naturalized in forest"  (A. C. Smith, 1985; pp. 327-328). In New Caledonia, "est commun, planté et naturalisé" (MacKee, 1994; p. 108).

Propagation:  The large black fruit are dispersed by frugivorous birds and perhaps occasionally by feral pigs (Sus scrofa).

Native range:  Indo-Malaysian.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Aitutaki Atoll	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	‘Atiu Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Ma‘uke Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Miti‘aro Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 89)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 9)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 164823) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1962) (voucher ID: BISH 14931) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Fiji Fiji Islands	Kandavu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 327-328) Vouchers cited: DA 11939 (DF 19, Watkins 688) Perhaps rarely naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (pp. 327-328) Vouchers cited: DA 3406, DA 188, DA 7608, DA 6021, DA 10523, DA 12353, DA 821, DA 3316 Perhaps rarely naturalized.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1956) (voucher ID: BISH 14930) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1961) (voucher ID: BISH 14932) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	St. John, Harold (1988) (p. 20) Voucher cited: Fosberg 11085 (BISH)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Eiao Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Vouchers cited: J.-C. Thibault 1048 (PAP), J. Florence , S.P. Perlman & M. Teikiteetini 9357 (PAP) Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) "Planté, se naturalise, surtout en bordure de rivière".Voucher cited: J. Florence 7433 (PAP) Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1986) (voucher ID: BISH 545499) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Fatu Hiva Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 1000522) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Hiva Oa Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 4136 (PAP) Menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Nuku Hiva (Nukahiva) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1982) (voucher ID: BISH 491151) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Tahuata (Tuhuata) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Huka (Huahuna, Uahuka) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Marquesas Islands	Ua Pou (Huapu, Uapou, Uapu) Island	introduced invasive	Lorence, David H./Wagner, Warren L. (2013)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence & R. Tahuaitu 11708 (PAP) Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Huahine Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1992) (voucher ID: BISH 643633) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 201-202) Voucher cited: BRY 25426
French Polynesia Society Islands	Maupiti (Maurua) Island	introduced invasive	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, M.-H. (1987) (p. 53) Voucher cited: Fosberg & Sachet 64966 (US)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Moorea Island		University of California (2006)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced cultivated	Welsh, S. L. (1998) (pp. 201-202) Voucher cited: BRY 26543
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 81)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 6602 (PAP) Naturalisée. Menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 554223) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1984) (voucher ID: BISH 554224) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 9030 (PAP) Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Makatea (Ma‘atea) Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 560428) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll	introduced invasive	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Voucher cited: J. Florence 10114 (PAP) Naturalisée, menace pour la biodiversité.
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Niau Atoll		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1990) (voucher ID: BISH 633770) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Raro‘ia Atoll	introduced cultivated abo. intro.	Meyer, Jean-Yves/Fourdrigniez, Marie (2008) (p. 15)
French Polynesia Tuamotu Archipelago	Takapoto Atoll	introduced cultivated	Sachet, M-H. (1983) (p. 31)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 447) Voucher cited: Stone 4281 (GUAM)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 189)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1962) (voucher ID: BISH 164973) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975) Voucher cited: Faurie 55 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 975)
New Caledonia Îles Loyauté (Loyalte Islands)	Île Maré	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 106) Voucher cited: Däniker 2558
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands		Swarbrick, John T. (1997) (p. 97)
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 106) Vouchers cited: Le Rat 254, Godefroy 81, Baumann 9891, MacKee 2084, MacKee 23422, MacKee 29744, MacKee 37916
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1948) (voucher ID: BISH 166886) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 134) Voucher cited: CHR 170461
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2000) (p. 25)
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara M./Newfield, Melanie/Bull, Cate (2004) (p. 15)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 189)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Raulerson, L./Rinehart, A. F./Falanruw, M. C. (1996) (p. 32)
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (2006) (voucher ID: BNM 1219) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini Druce
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Babeldaob Island		Beleu National Museum (Republic of Palau. Koror.) (2005) (voucher ID: BNM 216) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Druce
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 189) Cultivated?
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Koror (Oreor) Island		Kitalong, Ann Hillmann (2008) (p. 19) cited as "a known weedy and invasive tree in other parts of the Pacific" and as "common on Sngall Ridge"
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1929) (voucher ID: BISH 164927) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1933) (voucher ID: BISH 164929) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
Palau Palau (Belau ) (main island group)	Palau Islands (main island group)		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 166986) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Aulupse‘el (Ulebsechel) Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 189) Cultivated?
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Ngerukuid (Ngerukeuid, Seventy) Islands		Wagner, W. L./ Herbst, D. R./Weitzman, A./Lorence, D.H. (2013)
Palau Rock Islands (Chelbacheb)	Ngerukuid (Ngerukeuid, Seventy) Islands		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1988) (voucher ID: BISH 540102) Taxon name on voucher: Eugenia cumini (L.) Druce
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	probably introduced invasive cultivated abo. intro.	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 164) Planted and in many regions spontaneous. In all probability a prehistoric introduction from Malaya.
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1975) (voucher ID: BISH 418005) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Samoa Western Samoa Islands	Upolu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1975) (voucher ID: BISH 418007) Taxon name on voucher: Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels
Tonga Tongatapu Group	Tongatapu Island		Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (pp. 202-203) Cited: Cartwright.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
China China	Hong Kong	introduced cultivated	Wu, Te-lin (2001) (p. 164)
Indonesia Indonesia	Indonesia (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Malaysia Malaysia	Malaysia (country of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced invasive	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 83) Naturalised

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (pp. 70-71, 128) May naturalize.
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced cultivated	Lavergne, Christophe (2006) "Cultivé/subspontané"
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) Naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant.
French Territory of Mayotte Mayotte Islands	Mayotte Island	introduced cultivated	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) Naturalisée, potentiellement envahissant.
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Agalega Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Stoddart, D. R. (1983) (p. 129)
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Naturalized
Seychelles Seychelles Islands	Seychelles Islands	introduced	Invasive Species Specialist Group (2017)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Very invasive in the Cook Islands and on Raiatea, French Polynesia.

Control: 

Physical:  Hand pull or dig out seedlings and young plants.  "Goats browse on Java plum plants (An Peishel)"  (Motooka et al., 2003).

Chemical:  "Sensitive to foliar application of triclopyr and very sensitive to picloram.  Saplings up to 10 feet tall were susceptible to drizzle applications of triclopyr ester in crop oil at 1 lb/acre.  Sensitive to cut-surface applications (to drilled holes) of 2,4-D, dicamba, glyphosate, and triclopyr, and to basal bark and stump bark applications of triclopyr, 2,4-D, and imazapyr.  If Florida, basal bark applications of triclopyr ester at 10% product in oil, cut-surface applications of triclopyr amine at 50% product in water, and with triclopyr ester at 10% product in water were all effective.  Large trees have thick bark that makes basal bark treatments ineffective"  (Motooka et al., 2003).