JAMBUL

 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 astringnent 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.), 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.

Sometimes the name 'Jambul' is wrongly translated as 'Blackberry'. Blackberry is a different fruit and should not be confused with Jambul.
In Maharashtra, Jambul (locally know as Jambhul) leaves is use as marriage pendals. There is a famous song in Marathi,'Jambhul Piklya Zada Khali Dhol Kunacha Wajato' which means "under the full fruity jambul tree dhol (drum) is beaten in joy". This song is pictured on the famous Indian star Smita Patil

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