Scientific Name : Cleistocalyx nervosum (DC.) Kosterm.
Common Name : Lidded Cleistocalyx, Water Banyan
Chinese Name : 水翁, 水翁蒲桃, 水榕
Family : MYRTACEAE
Local distribution status : Native species
| Origin | Native to Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan. It is also distributed in Indochina, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Oceania. |
|---|---|
| Meanings of name | The specific epithet nervosum refers to its prominent leaf veins. |
| Ecology | The blossoms of Lidded Cleistocalyx are distinctively fragrant and extremely attractive to insects. Graphium sarpedon (Common Bluebottle), Athyma nefte (Colour Sergeant), and Hebomoia glaucippe (Great orange-tip) are the common butterfies that always visit the flowers. Furthermore, its berries are brilliant and juicy, serving as a delicacy to urban animals. |
| Vitality | Lidded Cleistocalyx is mainly distributed along streams and swamps. It is highly tolerant to waterlogging and windy environments, but cannot tolerate drought. |
| Application |
The tree is exploited for traditional Chinese medicines due to its versatility of medicinal probabilities. The bark is always used for relieving heat, dampness and parasites; the leaves can attenuate stagnation and itching; the flower buds are one of the primary ingredients of ‘24 herbal tea’ and ‘five flower tea’, which are the prominent herbal teas in Guangdong. The fruits are juicy and wholesome, thereby always eaten fresh or processed into wines. By reason of its multiple ecological benefits, the tree serves as a potential native species for reforestation work in Hong Kong. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 15 m. |
| Root | With a plate root when mature. |
| Stems | Bark greyish brown, massive exfoliation, with longitudinal cracks. |
| Leaves | Simple leaves opposite. Petioles grooved adaxially. Blade glabrous, oblong to elliptic, slightly leathery, base broadly cuneate to slightly rounded, apex acute to acuminate, entire, midvein raised abaxially, lateral veins 9-13 pairs, pointing at an angle of 45°-60° from midvein, reticulate and intramarginal veins obvious. |
| Flower | Hermaphroditic. Thyrses axillary, on leafless branches. Flowers always 2-3 in clusters, sessile. Hypanthium semiglobose, calyptra apex beaked, stamens many, white. |
| Fruit | Berries broadly ovoid, turning purple black at maturity. |
| Flowering period | May to June in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | August to September in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=3520
Scientific names from other databases :
― Flora of China : Syzygium nervosum Candolle
― Plants of the World Online : Syzygium nervosum A. Cunn. ex DC.