Syzygium acre

Syzygium acre
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Syzygium
Species:	S. acre
Binomial name
Syzygium acre (Pancher ex Guillaumin) J.W.Dawson [2]
Synonyms [2]
Jambosa acrisPancher ex Guillaumin

Syzygium acre is an understory rainforest tree in the family Myrtaceae that is endemic to New Caledonia.

Description

Syzygium acre is a pachycaul "palmoid" tree which grows up to 10 m (33 ft) in height. It usually has a single trunk, but may have two or three vertical branches with a rosette of enormous leaves at the top of each, ^[3] with each leaf growing to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) in length by 38 cm (15 in) wide. The young leaves and the flowers are pinkish; the flowers are cauliflorous (i.e. growing directly from the trunk) and are about 5 cm (2 in) long, and pendant. The fruit is dark purple and fibrous.

Conservation status

As of February 2025 ^[update] , this species is regarded as endangered by the IUCN due to the species being restricted to a very small area in Grande Terre (the main island of New Caledonia), and threats to its habitat imposed by bushfires and feral pigs. The current population size is not known. ^[1]

References

1. Hequet, V.; Vandrot, H.; Barrabé, L.; Amice, R.; Butin, J.-P.; Cazé, H.; Fleurot, D.; Suprin, B.; Chambrey, C.; Laudereau, C.; Haverkamp, C.; Fogliani, B. (2020). "Syzygium acre". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T181014589A181029592. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T181014589A181029592.en . Retrieved 12 February 2025.
2. "Syzygium acre (Pancher ex Guillaumin) J.W.Dawson". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
3. "Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Dépendances, Volume 23: Myrtaceae, Myrtoideae (I): Syzygium". www.nhbs.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.