Syzygium tierneyanum
| River cherry | |
|---|---|
| Growing on the Cairns Esplanade, November 2022 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Syzygium |
| Species: | S. tierneyanum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Syzygium tierneyanum | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
|
7 synonyms
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Syzygium tierneyanum, commonly known as river cherry, water cherry, or Bamaga satinash, is a tree in the family Myrtaceae which is native to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and north east Queensland.[3][4] It often grows along watercourses where it is a facultative rheophyte.[4]
Description
Syzygium tierneyanum is a medium sized spreading tree up to about 20 m (66 ft) in height with grey bark and an open crown.[5] The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on the twigs and can reach up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long, with well-spaced lateral veins. Numerous small white flowers are produced in the summer and are followed by cream, pink or red edible berries about 3 cm (1.2 in) diameter.[6][7]
Taxonomy
The river cherry was first described as Eugenia tierneyana in 1865 by Ferdinand von Mueller.[5] It was reviewed and given its current binomial name in 1973 by Thomas Gordon Hartley and Lily May Perry.[8]
Conservation
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.[1] As of 13 November 2022, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Cultivation
This species has been widely planted as a park and street tree in the city of Cairns, Queensland.[9]
Gallery
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Trunk
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Flowers
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Fruit
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Tree beside Freshwater Creek in Cairns
References
- ^ a b "Species profile—Syzygium tierneyanum (river cherry)". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ "Syzygium tierneyanum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "Syzygium tierneyanum (F.Muell.) T.G.Hartley & L.M.Perry". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Syzygium tierneyanum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
- ^ a b Mueller, Ferdinand von (1865). Fragmenta phytographiæ Australiæ (in Latin). Vol. 5. Melbourne: Joannis Ferres. p. 14. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Syzygium tierneyanum". James Cook Univercity. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Simpson, Donald. "Syzygium tierneyanum". Some Magnetic Island Plants. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
- ^ Hartley, T.G.; Perry, Lily May (1973). "A provisional key and enumeration of species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from Papuasia". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 54 (2): 200.
- ^ "TreePlotter". Cairns Regional Council’s Street and Park Tree Database. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
External links
- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver