Syzygium
cordatum; Water Berry or umDoni in Zulu; Waterbessie; or umJomi in Xhosa
Article by Geoff Nichols
This is probably one of the most well known of our local trees.
It occurs all along our coastal belt in damp areas along streams and on the
edges of marshes.
As children and even adults we have all at one time or another had a taste
of the swollen ripe black fruits. The taste is slightly acidic but refreshing.
Just as oranges or litchis have better tasting varieties the umDoni has
better fruiting and flavoured specimens.
The fruit-eating birds and Monkeys are all over the trees when the fruits
are ripe in the late summer. In the evenings you will find the shy antelope
like Duiker and Bushbuck even Nyala further north, of course don’t forget
the Bushpig, moving in at sunset and during the hours of darkness to feast
on the fallen fruits.
|
|
In the
natural conditions of swamps umDoni trees form a dominant feature of swamp
forests. The trees are often festooned with epiphytic orchids that provide
another dimension of interest for the keen observer.
This is one of the prime pioneer species that I would plant in the stream
areas that need to be protected from soil erosion in the sugarcane belt of
KZN.
These trees can withstand wind and salt spray and still survive. Drought
is a problem and to get the best results always have the tree with its roots
in a damp sunny spot. In Zululand the trees live on the wind swept grasslands
of the eastern shores of Lake St. Lucia and have a dwarfed and windswept look
about them.
All in all this species is a real survivor of our continent even surviving
the periodic fires that sweep through the grasslands that make up much of
its habitat.
To grow this species take fresh fruits, clean off the fleshy outer covering
and sow the greenish looking seeds in damp well drained soil or sand. Once
the seeds germinate after about 2-3 weeks they can be pricked out into small
containers to begin their new lives. Always grow Waterberry trees in as much
sunlight as possible to harden the young trees up and encourage vigorous new
growth.
A great evergreen garden tree, with its rounded canopy, that will give great
pleasure in your garden.
