Lilly Pilly

Syzygilum Oleosum

Common Name: Lilly Pilly

First Nations Name: Galang-arra (NSW)

Scientific Name: Syzygium Oleosum

Height: 10-15m tall

Bark: Bark rough, prickly with protruding fibres, with horizontal ridges from leaf scars, and vertical fissures.

Leaves: Its glossy green leaves are oval shaped or slightly elongated, to about 12cm long and 4cm wide, with a long pointy tip.

Flowers:  The flowers are off-white, fluffy and honey scented, about 25 mm in diameter, and are held in clusters at the ends of stems.

Fruit: Edible blue-purple berries that are 10–25mm in diameter. They are crunchy and light with a mild sweetness.

Lilly Pilly_01_01

Lilly Pilly Rachel_01_01

First Nations Uses: This fruit features widely in traditional Aboriginal medicine, used as a treatment for sore ears, wounds and skin conditions, and generally consumed as an immune system booster.

Geographical location: Native to East coast rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests from north Queensland to southern New South Wales

Conservation status: Not considered at risk

Photo & Research by: Rachel

Interesting fact:

There are over 60 types of Lilly Pilly native to Australia and over 1,200 types all around the world.