Barringtonia edulis

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Barringtonia edulis

Description

Small branching trees, 6-15 m tall. Leaves grouped in whorls at end of branches; Inflorescences 65-180 cm long, ramiflorous and terminal racemes, pendulous; Flowers with pedicels 0.2-0.5 cm long, not articulate; Fruits sessile, ellipsoid, truncate, tapering towards base, 4.5-9 by 2-4.5 cm, exocarp glabrous to sparsely puberulous, remains of calyx persistent; Seeds ovoid, c. 3 cm long, distinctly fissured.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Kandavu endemic, Lakemba endemic, Ovalau endemic, Pacific: Fiji (Fiji endemic), Viti Levu endemic
Probably endemic to Fiji (Viti Levu, Kandavu, Ovalau, Lakemba) and much cultivated in other places for the edible seed, which probably accounts for its presence in New Guinea.

Uses

The seed is edible. Many cultivars exist.

Citation

Prance 2013: p. 47. – In: Allertonia: f. 10, 20
A.C.Sm. 1981 – In: Fl. Vit. Nova: 597
Payens 1967 – In: Blumea: 208