Syzygium malaccense is a species of flowering tree native to Malesia and Australia. It is one of the species cultivated since prehistoric times by the Austronesian peoples. They were carried and introduced deliberately to Remote Oceania as canoe plants.

The combination of tree, flowers and fruit has been praised as the most beautiful of the genus Syzygium The fruit is oblong-shaped and dark red in color, although some varieties have white or pink skins. The flesh is white and surrounds a large seed. Its taste is bland but refreshing. Jam is prepared by stewing the flesh with brown sugar and ginger.

Trees, up to 15m tall. Very dense rounded crown. Large leaves, 20-30 cm long, 8-18 cm wide. Flowers red. Fruit (berry), edible, red, some varieties with white or pink skin. Flesh white, surrounds a large seed. Taste bland but refreshing.

Various parts of the tree are used in traditional medicine, the leaves and bark have in fact been shown to possess antibiotic activity, the bark is astringent, whilst the plant is also weakly hypoglycaemic. The plant contains tannins and is astringent. In particular, the bark, leaves and roots of Malay apple are used against different ailments.

An infusion of the bark is used to treat tuberculosis, mouth infections, stomach-ache and abdominal ailments. The bark is used to cure mouth sores in children. It is also used as a purgative and to treat venereal diseases.
The leaves are used to treat red eyes. A decoction of the leaves is used as a wash on skin infections.

Other conditions treated with this plant include cough; yellow urine and bad appetite; as a remedy for deep bone pains, diabetes, gonorrhoea, swollen stomach after childbirth, sore throat, thrush, bronchitis and to relieve constipation.