I think this is the one.
Chomphu-nam dok mai (Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston)
Rose apple or "Chomphu-nam dok mai" as it is known in Thailand is also in the Myrtaceae family. It is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia and Malaysia and South Thailand may be its centre of origin (van Lingen, 1991). Some literature claims that it was introduced from India (Morton, 1987) and the East Indies (Kennard and Winters, 1960). The tree has been grown throughout the tropics and has become naturalized in many tropical countries.
2.1 Vernacular names
Rose apple, malabar plum (English); pome rose, jambosier (France); jambu air mawar, jambu mawar, jambu kraton (Indonesia); jambu kelampol, jambu mawer (Malaysia); tampoy (Tagalog), bunlaun (Bisaya), yambo (Philippines); châm-puu (Cambodia); chièng, kieng (Laos); chomphu-nam dok mai (Central), manom hom (North), yamu-panawa (Malay-Yala) (Thailand); lý bô dào, roi (Viet Nam).
2.2 General description
Chomphu-nam dok mai is an evergreen tree, which can grow up to 10 m tall with a 50 cm trunk diameter. The tree is low branching and often found as a dense crown of wide-spreading branches. The stem is twisted at the base with brown, furrowed, smooth bark. The leaves are about 926 × 1.5-6 cm in size, shiny and pink when young then fading to pale green on the upper side and lighter green and obscurely glandular punctate on the lower side. They are narrow and gradually tapered to the base with 6-13 mm long petiole. Inflorescences are short terminal or axillary corymbs, with 4-10 flowers. The flowers are large and showy, white to pale green, sweetly scented, and about 5-10 cm wide. Fruit is a drupe, globose to ovoid and about 2.5-5 cm in diameter. The fruits are crowned by persistent calyx and style. When ripe they may be greenish, or dull yellow flushed with pink. The fruit skin is dull, the flesh is whitish, firm and rose scented. The fruit ripens in about 3 months after bloom. The rose-water smell of the fruit is a distinct character of this species.
2.3 Propagation
Chomphu-nam dok mai is normally propagated from seeds. The seeds have no dormancy and germinate well. A single seed often gives rise to 3-8 seedlings and most of them are true to type. Asexual propagation such as marcotting, budding and grafting can be done, but marcotting seems to be most common. Initial planting should be shaded. The juvenile phase lasts 4-5 years, and the marcotted plants can bear fruit within 4 years. Little husbandry is required after planting.
2.4 Uses
The fruits, if meant to be consumed fresh, should be handled with care after harvest and marketed as quickly as possible. The fruits bruise easily and rapidly lose their crispness. Besides fresh consumption, the fruit is also cooked or preserved in various ways for home use. It can be distilled to yield a rose-water which is said to be equal to the best obtained from rose petals. A yellow coloured essential oil, important in the perfume industry, is derived from the leaves by distillation. The heartwood is heavy and hard, and is suitable for use in construction. However, the wood is very susceptible to termite attack and not durable in the soil. The bark contains 7 percent tannin on a dry weight basis and is used by local villagers for tanning and dyeing purposes. Several parts of the tree are used medicinally as a tonic or a diuretic.
The nutritional value per 100 g edible portion of the fruit comprises: 84-89 g water, 0.5-0.8 g protein, 0.2-0.3 g fat, 9.7-14.2 g carbohydrates, 1-2 g fibre, 0.3-0.4 g ash, 123-235 IU carotene, 0.55-1.01 mg Vitamin B complex and 3-37 vitamin C. The energy value is 234 kJ/100 g. The pulp has high pectin content and it is suitable for use as a settling agent.
2.5 Prospects
The prospect of developing Chomphu-nam dok mai production at commercial scale is slim. This is mainly due to lack of market demand. Low yield, susceptible to bruising and short shelf-life are the disadvantages of the crop. Thus, at present Chomphu-nam dok mai is expected to remain as a home garden tree, and is appreciated for its ornamental value as much as for its fruit.
