Java apple (Syzygium samarangense)

Jambu Semarang or Java apple (Syzygium samarangense) is a species of plant in Myrtaceae, a tropical tree up to 15 meters high, many branches, short trunk, wide but open crown from the bottom of the tree, the bark is bright red gray and easily peels off.

S. samarangense has green leaves, oval, elongated and slender, sharp tip, 10-28 cm long, 5-10 cm wide, aromatic when crushed. The leaves sit opposite and have short stalks.

Flowers are formed in panicles, white to yellowish white, 2.5 cm in diameter, four petals and many stamens. The flowers and fruit produced are not limited to the leaf axils and can appear at almost any point on the surface of the stem and branches.

Edible bell-shaped berries, white or pale green or green or red or purple or dark red or dark purple or black. The fruit is 4-7 cm long and has four fleshy calyx lobes at the end. Thin skin, white and chewy flesh. Each berry houses a spherical shaped seed.

When mature, this tree produces up to 700 fruits in one harvest. Fruit is served as a table fruit which is generally eaten fresh or used as an ingredient in salads. Hard and reddish woods are often used as building materials.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Subfamily: Myrtoideae
Tribe: Syzygieae
Genus: Syzygium
Species: Syzygium samarangense
Cultivar: Klampok, Camplong, Cincalo Semarang, Cincalo abang, Cincalo ijo, Citra Demak, Lilin abang, Lilin ijo

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) manufacture bubble-nets as tools to increase prey intake

NEWS - Humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) create bubble net tools while foraging, consisting of internal tangential rings, and actively control the number of rings, their size, depth and horizontal spacing between the surrounding bubbles. These structural elements of the net increase prey intake sevenfold. Researchers have known that humpback whales create “bubble nets” for hunting, but the new report shows that the animals also manipulate them in a variety of ways to maximize catches. The behavior places humpbacks among the rare animals that make and use their own tools. “Many animals use tools to help them find food, but very few actually make or modify these tools themselves,” said Lars Bejder, director of the Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP), University of Hawaii at Manoa. “Humpback whales in southeast Alaska create elaborate bubble nets to catch krill. They skillfully blow bubbles in patterns that form a web with internal rings. They actively control details such ...

Purhepecha oak (Quercus purhepecha), new species of shrub oak endemic to the state of Michoacán, Mexico

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Cempaki (Termitomyces microcarpus)

Cempaki ( Termitomyces microcarpus ) is a species of fungus in the Lyophyllaceae family. It grows wild in tropical Asian forests near termite nests. It is rarely reported in urban areas. It is edible and known for its deliciousness, high nutritional value, and difficulty in cultivating. In Indonesia, it is used as an alternative food ingredient. T. microcarpus is the smallest of the Termitomyces species, umbrella-shaped, plain white, measuring 5 cm tall and 2.5 cm wide. It grows in dense clusters on surfaces and forms a mutualistic relationship, requiring the metabolic activity of termites as a substrate for growth. This species is known for its deliciousness, rich in nutrients, and has potential bioactive properties, such as helping lower cholesterol and acting as a tonic. Currently, it is difficult to cultivate on a large scale, and people rely solely on wild harvests. This mushroom is highly favored for its savory, delicious flavor and soft, chewy texture. It is often stir-fried ...

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