Syzygium scortechinii (King) P.Chanaranothai & J.Parnell, Kew Bull. 48 (1993)

Named after B. Scortechini [1845-1886], missionary and plant collector.

Synonyms
Eugenia heteroclada Merr.
Eugenia insigne Anderson
Eugenia kingii Merr.
Eugenia scortechnii King
Eugenia scortechinii var. cuneata M.R.Hend.
Eugenia scortechinii var. parvifolia Ridl.
Syzygium heterocladum (Merr.) Merr. & Perry
Syzygium kingii (Merr.) Merr. & Perry
Syzygium scortechinii var. cuneatum (M.R.Hend.) I.M.Turner
Syzygium scortechinii var. parvifolia (Ridl.) Masamune

Diagnostics
Sub-canopy tree up to 24 m tall and 29 cm dbh. Twigs winged. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, venation conspicuous, glabrous. Flowers ca. 30 mm diameter, white-pinkish, with protruding stamens, flowers placed in dense clusters. Fruits ca. 18 mm diameter, green-white-pink-purplish, fleshy berries.

Description
Understorey tree with smooth grey-brown bark. Parts hairless. Twig pale brown, smooth, slender but stouter with 4 distinct shoulders at the nodes, the shoulders continuing variably as blunt angles down the otherwise c.2 mm diameter terete tapering internodes. Leaf blade c.18 x 6(8-20 x 2.5-7) cm but variable, elliptic to narrowly obovate or ovate-lanceolate, drying dull dark tawny-brown above, pale greenish brown beneath; base heart-shaped or rounded, abruptly joining c.4 mm short stalk, acumen to 3 cm long, tapering; densely minutely pitted above, faintly dotted beneath; venation including tertiaries distinct on both surfaces, veins unequal, main veins c.12 pairs, more prominent beneath, furrowed above, spreading; intramarginal vein 1(2) pairs, the main one 2-3 mm within margin, somewhat looped. Flowers few in dense terminal clusters, bud to 15 x 15 mm including distinct c.3 mm pseudostalk, jambu-shaped, sepal lobes 4, to 7 x 9 mm, large, unequal, ovate, obtuse, hyaline towards margin, spreading on flowering to 20 mm diameter ring; stamens many; style extending to 15 mm, prominent. Fruit c.20 x 20 mm, top-shaped, smooth, with c.15 mm diameter prominent sepal ring; style persistent, to 25 mm long, slender. [from Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak]

Ecology
In undisturbed mixed dipterocarp, swamp to sub-montane forests up to 1900 m altitude. Often along rivers and streams, but also common on hillsides. On sandy to clay soils.

Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo.

Local names
Borneo: Obah air, Obar, Ubah, Ubah laut.