Bacang, Horse mango
Mangifera foetida

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-27 m high. It has rough brown bark. The trunk is straight and can be 1 m across. It odes not have buttresses. The bark is brown and has broad flat cracks. The sap causes irritation and it turns black on exposure. The branches are large and the crown is dense. The leaves are dark green. They are oblong and 15-40 cm long by 9-15 cm wide. They are stiff and rough. They are dark green above and clear green underneath. The leaf stalks are 15.8 cm long and are stout with a fattened base. The flowering clusters are upright and form a pyramid shape. These can be 10-40 cm long. The flowers are pinkish red and do not have a scent. The flowers and dead leaves are found on the ground. Pink flowers are on red stems. The fruit is oval and 9-14 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. It is like a mango fruit. The fruit is dull green with a smooth skin. They have small dark spots. The flesh is fibrous and yellow. The juice has a strong smell of turpentine. The stone is plump and 6 cm long by 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick.

There are about 40 Mangifera species. An unresolved name in The Plant List. It is rich in Vitamin A.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. They grow in the humid tropics. It grows from sea level to 1,000 or 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia (country/location of origin), Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten once they are fully ripe. They are also used in chutney and pickles. The fruit has a turpentine smell which makes it less popular. CAUTION: The unripe fruit can irritate the skin. The ripe fruit is peeled thickly to avoid this. The unripe fruit are washed in salted water and sliced and used as a vegetable and in pickles.

They are sold in markets in Malaysia. Edible fruit can be sold for $1 each in Brunei. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Flowers can be produced throughout the year but often in two main flushes.

Its other names

Local names

Ambacang, Ambatjang, Asam hambawang, Asam pamas, Asampajang, Ata, Bacang, Bachang, Badut, Bangbangan, Batel, Batjang, Bawang, Baya, Boeja, Embachang, Embang, Jabing, Kemantan, La-mot, La mote, Lamut, Limoes, Limus, Ma chae, Maa-chang, Macang, Machang, Malamut, Mamut, Mangga hoetan, Mangue fetide, Membacang, Pa-oh, Pachu, Pahu, Pangin, Pawuk, Pelam, Pelem bawang, Pohon mangga limus, Pudu, Sdei, Soai ca lam, Svaay saa, Svay sa, Talangtang, Tempajang, Thayet-pok, Thulik kaki, Xoai hoi

Synonyms

Mangifera horsfieldii Miq.; Mangifera leschenaultii March.;