Dracontomelon

Primary tabs

Dracontomelon

Description

Trees. Leaves spiral, imparipinnate, petioled. Inflorescences paniculate, axillary or terminal. Flowers bisexual. Petals 5, valvate but imbricate at the apical part, puberulous outside or on both surfaces, or glabrous. Stamens 10, those opposite the calyx lobes longer than those alternate with them; Ovary 5-celled, hairy and glabrescent; Seed with testa free from the endocarp;

Distribution

Asia-Temperate, Asia-Tropical: Cambodia (Cambodia present); India present; Thailand (Thailand present), Burma present, Pacific: Fiji (Fiji present), W. Polynesia present, continental Asia present
About 8 spp., distributed from continental Asia (India, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, and China) throughout Malesia to W. Polynesia (Fiji).

Uses

Dracontomelon is sometimes planted in villages because of the fruit which has a small amount of a rather acid, juicy, edible pulp around a large endocarp (stone). The trees also provide very decorative timber.

Citation

Engl. 1883 – In: DC., Mon. Phan. 4: 250
WILKINSON 1966 – In: Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.: 429
Bl. 1968: J. Nat. Hist.: p. 39
Bl. 1967: J. Nat. Hist.: p. 505