Barringtonia niedenzuana

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A small tree up to 15 m tall. Trunks are 5 to 25 cm across and twigs are 2 to 5 mm thick. The tree has a dense cone shaped group of leaves at the top. The bark is cracked and irregular. The leaves are egg shaped and 12 to 26 cm long by 4 to 9 cm wide. The leaves are like paper with a wavy or toothed edge. They are dark green on top and paler underneath. A cluster of five leaves occurs on the end of a branch. The leaves are pointed at the tip and wedge shaped at the base. The midrib and main veins are prominent on both sides while the fine veins are only prominent under the leaf. The flower stalks are 20 to 90 cm long, with about 30 flowers. The flower buds are pale green sometimes with a purple tinge. The flower petals can vary from purple to red, pink or yellow. The fruit is dark green. The fruit have 4 angles and are about 5 cm long by 1 cm across. The kernel or seed is about 3 cm long by 5 mm wide.

There are about 40 Barringtonia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest especially on limestone slopes. It can also grow under the rainforest and in low damp places near mangroves. It occurs up to 700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Nuts

How it is grown

Flowering occurs from January to November and fruiting is mainly between April and November.

Its other names

Local names

Ai ai chiram, Bori koelit, Buaro, Falagori, Falangada, Falangori, Fatafatu, Kenu, Kupunihari, Lususio, Pao, Sisel, Sowiriw, Tagal, Ta-autim

Synonyms

Barringtonia araiorhachis Merr. & Perry; Barringtonia bougainvilleana Knuth.; Barringtonia quadrigibbosa Laut.; Careya niednenzuana K. Schum.; Cumbia niedenzuana (K. Schum.) Kuntze;