Balam suntei tree
Payena leerii
Family: Sapotaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows to 38 m high. The trunk is 80 cm across. There are buttresses 2 m high. The twigs are 1-5 mm thick. The leaves are papery to leathery. They are oval and 3.5-14 cm long by 1.5-7.5 cm wide. They are broadest in the middle. They taper to the tip. The edges roll inwards. The base is unequal. There are 7-16 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers are white or yellowish-white. They can occur singly or in clusters of up to 7. The fruit is cone shaped with a flat base. It is 2.5-5 cm long by 0.9-1.3 cm wide. The fruit are edible.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in lowland and heath forest up to 1,000 m altitude. It is often in swampy places near the coast.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, South America
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten.
Fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated food plant.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Balam chabe, Balam pipi, Balam sonte, Balam sundek, Beringin, Getah sundek, Jiput beringi, Kolan, Kulan, Mergatahan, Nyatu, Pohon balam beringin, Pohon balam suntei, Semaram, Surin, Tembaga