Barringtonia calyptrocalyx

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3-6 m tall. It only has a few branches. The leaves are on the upper part of the stem. The leaves are large. They are 79 cm long by 24 cm wide. They taper to the base. They are dark green above and more pale underneath. The flowers are a deep red. The fruit are green and mature to orange and 3 angled. They are round to oblong and 5 cm long by 4.5 cm wide. The seed is 4 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. It occurs in a spongy pulp.

Barringtonia calyptrocalyx may be separate from Barringtonia boridiensis.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It occurs in Central Province in Papua New Guinea and the Sepik. It grows in forests near streams.

Countries/locations it is found in

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia

How it is used for food

It has previously been used to extract salt by leaching the ash out of the leaves and bark.

Edible parts

Salt

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bura bura, Papao

Synonyms

Barringtonia boridiensis R. Knuth; Barringtonia calophylla K. Schum. & Lauterb.; Barringtonia carrii R. Knuth;