Mausteneilikka – Syzygium aromaticum

Root system is dense and close to the surface with a few sinkers reaching a depth of ca. 3 m. The trunk often forks near base to give 2-3 main erect branches. Bark is thin, gray, smooth to rough. Leaves are opposite, elliptic, petiolate, glabrous, up to 6 x 13 cm, aromatic with numerous oil glands on lower surface. Young leaves are tinged red, mature leaves are dark green, shiny above, paler beneath. Inflorescence is a terminal paniculate cyme, bearing 3-20 purple or reddish bisexual flowers. Flowers have 4 triangular fleshy minute sepals and 4 rounded petals that fall when flower opens. Stamens are numerous, 5-7 mm long, with slender white filaments and pale-yellow anthers. Ovary is inferior, embedded in fleshy hypanthium. Fruit is a fleshy drupe, oblong to obovoid, 1 x 3 cm, deep red to purple, containing 1 (rarely 2) seed. Seed is oblong, ca. 1.5 cm long, grooved on one surface.