Morphological Features and Landscaping Suitability of Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. var. lineare Trees from the Belihuloya Region of Sri Lanka

Purpose: Syzygium zeylanicum (L.) DC. grows naturally in some of the Asian countries including Sri Lanka. In the Belihuloya region the S. zeylanicum trees are naturally grown with specific characteristics than the rest of the country and in other countries. It is scientifically identified as a different variety as S. zeylanicum (L.) DC. var. lineare (Wall.). There are no studies specifically focused on this tree in Sri Lanka. This study has focused on the studying morphological characters and suitability of S. zeylanicum var. lineare as a landscaping plant.

Research Method: Morphological characteristics of leaves, flowers, and fruits (pericarp thickness, seed diameter, width, length and weight of fruit) were recorded from randomly selected trees. Landscaping suitability was evaluated using measurements of shading under the tree canopy, the air pollution tolerance index of the plant and the general community perception.

Findings: Leaf (area, length, width, petiole length, internodal length, and leaf-veins-angle), flower (length and width of style, filament, floral cup and length of pedicel and anther) and fruit morphological parameters were significantly different among plants except for the width of anther, floral cup and fruit length. The average shading was 88.7%. Most of the surveyed persons preferred to grow the plants as a landscaping plant (47%). Twenty-six percent (26%) of the respondents indicated that it could be used as a good shade tree. Further, respondents identified fruit appearance, tiny leaves, and branching patterns are features that would give high landscaping value to the plant. The air pollution tolerance index was 9.72 in the control site and 9.32 in the polluted site.

Research Limitations: Selecting the same ageing plants for the study was difficult.

Originality/ Value: The plant can be used as a landscaping plant, mainly as a shade plant. The plant is sensitive in a polluted environment and can be used as an air pollution indicator.