Syzygium

{{Short description|Genus of plants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Starr 070321-6132 Syzygium malaccense.jpg

|image_caption = Syzygium malaccense

|display_parents = 2

|parent_authority =

|taxon = Syzygium

|authority = P. Browne ex Gaertn.{{cite web |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomygenus?id=11821 |title=Genus: Syzygium P. Browne ex Gaertn. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=30 January 2021 |access-date=12 February 2021}}

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = About 1100; see List of Syzygium species

|synonyms = {{Collapsible list |

| Acicalyptus A. Gray

| Acmena DC.

| Acmenosperma Kausel

| Anetholea Peter G. Wilson

| Aphanomyrtus Miq.

| Bostrychode (Miq.) O. Berg in C. F. P. von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)

| Caryophyllus L.

| Cerocarpus Colebr. ex Hassk.

| Cetra Noronha

| Clavimyrtus Blume

| Cleistocalyx Blume

| Cupheanthus Seem.

| Gaslondia Vieill.

| Gelpkea Blume

| Jambolifera Houtt.

| Jambos Adans.

| Jambosa DC. nom. illeg.

| Leptomyrtus (Miq.) O. Berg in C. F. P. von Martius & auct. suc. (eds.)

| Lomastelma Raf.

| Macromyrtus Miq.

| Macropsidium Blume

| Malidra Raf.

| Microjambosa Blume

| Myrthoides Wolf

| Opa Lour.

| Pareugenia Turrill

| Piliocalyx Brongn. & Gris

| Pseudoeugenia Scort.

| Strongylocalyx Blume

| Syllisium Endl.

| Syllysium Meyen & Schauer

| Tetraeugenia Merr.

| Waterhousea B.Hyland

| Xenodendron K.Schum. & Lauterb.

}}

|synonyms_ref = {{cite web |url=http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/synonomy.do?name_id=199154 |title=WCSP |work=World Checklist of Selected Plant Families |access-date=8 March 2014}}

}}

File:Syzygium oleosum.jpg (magenta lilly pilly)]]

File:Wax apple.png, with a cross section of the fruit]]

Syzygium ({{IPAc-en|s|ɪ|ˈ|z|ɪ|dʒ|iː|ə|m}}){{Cite OED|syzygium}} is a genus of flowering plants that belongs to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. The genus comprises about 1200 species,{{cite web |title=Syzygium Gaertn. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:327906-2 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=20 February 2021}}{{citation |chapter-url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=132166 |title=Flora of China Online |access-date=3 May 2015 |volume=13 |chapter=Syzygium P. Browne ex Gaertner, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 166. 1788 |author=Jie Chen and Lyn A. Craven}}{{cite journal |last1=Ahmad |first1=Berhaman |last2=Baider |first2=Cláudia |last3=Bernardini |first3=Benedetta |last4=Biffin |first4=Edward |last5=Brambach |first5=Fabian |last6=Burslem |first6=David |last7=Byng |first7=James W. |last8=Christenhusz |first8=Maarten J.M. |last9=Florens |first9=F.B. Vincent|last10=Lucas|first10=Eve J. |last11=Ray |first11=Avik |last12=Ray |first12=Rajasri |last13=Smets |first13=Erik |last14=Snow |first14=Neil W. |last15=Strijk |first15=Joeri S. |last16=Wilson |first16=Peter G. |title=Syzygium (Myrtaceae): Monographing a taxonomic giant via 22 coordinated regional revisions |journal=PeerJ Preprints |date=2016 |doi=10.7287/peerj.preprints.1930v1 |url=https://publications.goettingen-research-online.de/bitstream/2/62510/1/SYZWG%202016%20-%20Syzygium%20Working%20group.pdf |access-date=6 April 2016 |doi-access=free}} and has a native range that extends from Africa and Madagascar through southern Asia east through the Pacific.{{Cite journal |last1=Tuiwawa |first1=S.H. |last2=Craven |first2=L.A. |last3=Sam |first3=C. |last4=Crisp |first4=M.D. |date=23 August 2013 |title=The genus Syzygium (Myrtaceae) in Vanuatu |journal=Blumea |volume=58 |issue=1 |pages=53–67 |doi=10.3767/000651913x672271 |bibcode=2013Blume..58...53T |url=http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/565101|url-access=subscription }} Its highest levels of diversity occur from Malaysia to northeastern Australia, where many species are very poorly known and many more have not been described taxonomically. One indication of this diversity is in leaf size, ranging from as little as a half inch (one cm) to as great as 4 ft 11 inches (1.5 meters) by sixteen inches (38 centimeters) in Syzygium acre of New Caledonia.Flore de la Novelle Caladonie, Volume 23 pages 44-45

Most species are evergreen trees and shrubs. Several species are grown as ornamental plants for their attractive glossy foliage, and a few produce edible fruits called roseapples that are eaten fresh or used in jams and jellies. The most economically important species, however, is the clove Syzygium aromaticum, of which the unopened flower buds are an important spice. Some of the edible species of Syzygium are planted throughout the tropics worldwide, and several have become invasive species in some island ecosystems. Fifty-two species are found in Australia and are generally known as lillipillies, brush cherries or satinash.{{cite book |last1=Wrigley |first1=John W. |last2=Fagg |first2=Murray A. |title=Australian native plants: cultivation, use in landscaping and propagation |publisher=Reed New Holland |edition=Fifth |year=2003 |location=Australia |pages=696 |isbn=1876334908}}

At times Syzygium was confused taxonomically with the genus Eugenia (c. 1000 species), but the latter genus has its highest specific diversity in the neotropics. Many species formerly classed as Eugenia are now included in the genus Syzygium, although the former name may persist in horticulture. The Syzygium Working Group, an international group of researchers, formed in April 2016 with the aim to produce a monograph of Syzygium.

The genus name comes from the Greek word {{lang|el|syzygia}}, meaning "joining together or conjunction".{{Cite web |title=Definition of SYZYGIUM |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/syzygium |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=www.merriam-webster.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=ONLINE LATIN DICTIONARY - Latin - English |url=https://www.online-latin-dictionary.com/latin-english-dictionary.php?parola=syzygia |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=www.online-latin-dictionary.com}}