Jambuls

Jambuls, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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This is jambuls from the tree near the slums, the tree is in the Galaxy building close to Bandra transit camp...not the Galaxy where Salman Khan stays...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jambul (Syzygium cumini) is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae, native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Trinidad and Indonesia. The word 'Jambul' is sometimes mistranslated as 'Blackberry', which is a different fruit.

Jambul is also known as Jaam/Kalojaam, Jamun, Nerale Hannu, Naval pazham,Neredupandu, Jamblang, Jambolan, Jambula, Black Plum, Damson Plum, Duhat Plum, Jambolan Plum, Java Plum or Portuguese Plum. "Malabar plum" may also refer to other species of Syzygium.

For long in the period of recorded history, the tree been known to have grown in the Indian Sub-continent, and many other adjoining regions of South Asia and around. The tree was introduced to Florida, USA in 1911 by the USDA, and is also now commonly grown in Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. In Brazil, where it was introduced from India during Portuguese colonization, it has dispersed spontaneously in the wild in some places, as its fruits are eagerly sought by various native birds such as thrushes, tanagers and the Great Kiskadee. This species is considered an invasive in Hawaii, USA, where it is known as Java Plum.[1]

Scientific synonyms include Syzygium jambolanum, Eugenia cumini and Eugenia jambolana.

A fairly fast growing species, it can reach heights of up to 30 m and can live more than 100 years. Its dense foliage provides shade and is grown just for its ornamental value. The wood is strong and is water resistant. Because of this it is used in railway sleepers and to install motors in wells. It is sometimes used to make cheap furniture and village dwellings though it is relatively hard to work on.

Jambul trees start flowering from March to April. The flowers of jambul are fragrant and small, about 5 mm in diameter. The fruits develop by May or June and resemble large berries. The fruit is oblong, ovoid, starts green and turns pink to shining crimson black as it matures. A variant of the tree produces white coloured fruit. The fruit has a combination of sweet, mildly sour and astringent flavour and tends to colour the tongue purple. The seed is also used in various alternative healing systems like Ayurveda (to control diabetes, for example.[2]), Unani and Chinese medicine for digestive ailments. The leaves and bark are used for controlling blood pressure and gingivitis. Wine and vinegar are also made from the fruit. It has a high source in vitamin A and vitamin C.[3][4][5]

Jambul has been spread overseas from India by Indian emigrants and at present is common in former tropical British colonies.[6]

According to Hindu tradition, Rama subsisted on the fruit in the forest for 14 years during his exile from Ayodhya[citation needed]. Because of this, many Hindus regard jambul as a 'fruit of the gods,' especially in Gujarat, India, where it is known locally as jamboon.

Lord Krishna has been described as having skin the color of Jamun. In Hindu mythology several protagonists have been described as having the color of jambul[citation needed].

In Maharashtra, jambul (locally known as jambhul Devanagari :जांभूळ) leaves are used as marriage pandals.
[edit] Ancient Tamil culture

There is a very famous legend that is associated with Auvaiyar (also Auvayar) (Tamil: ஔவையார்), a prominent female poets/ethicist/political activist of Sangam period (Tamil literature), and Naaval Pazham(Jambu) in Tamil Nadu. Auvaiyar, believing to have achieved everything that is to be achieved, said to have been pondering over her retirement from Tamil literary work while resting under Naaval Pazham tree. But she was met with and was wittily jousted by a disguised Lord Murugan (regarded as one of the guardian deities of Tamil language), who later revealed himself and made her realize that there is still a lot more need to be done and learnt. Following this awakening, Auvaiyar has believed to have undertaken fresh set of literary works, targeted at children. These works, even after a millennium, often are among the very first literature children are exposed to in Tamil Nadu schools.
[edit] In Telugu culture

This tree is called Neredu in Telugu. Besides the fruits, wood from Neredu tree is used in Andhra Pradesh to make bullock cart wheels and other agricultural equipment. Culturally, beautiful eyes are compared to this fruit. In the great epic of India Mahabharatha Sri Krishnas'[Lord Vishnu] body color is compared to this fruit as well.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jambul