Translated "water apple" occurs naturally from southern India to Malaysia. It is commonly cultivated plant. The water apple is the least of the small group of somewhat similar fruits with a varieties of colors and taste resulting in a large host of names. Likewise in Indonesia there are local names like  djamboo aer, djamboo wer, or djamboo wir. In the Philippines, it is called tambis; in Thailand, it is chom-phu-pa. Among the non-hybrids are 2 popular types, one - white-fruited and the other red. Usually the red colored fruits has the shade developing from the base upward. Much variation is seen in the fruits from different trees in Malaya and the flavor varies from sweet to sour. In Malaysia there are two crops a year, one in the March and a second in the September. In Indonesia, the tree frequently blooms in July and again in September, the fruits ripening in August and November