Barringtonia reticulata

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 10 m tall. The trunk is 20 cm across. The bark is reddish-brown. It is deeply cracked. The branches can be drooping. The twigs are slender. The leaves are crowded at the ends of the twigs. They are simple and alternate. The veins in the leaf are like a net. The leaves are narrowly oval and 14-18 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. The flowers hang down at the ends of the branches. The flowering shoots are 30-65 cm long. The flowers are about 4 cm across. The are pink to red. The fruit are 4 cm long. They are reddish-green and angular. They are fleshy.

There are about 40 Barringtonia species. The sap of the leaves is used to dye teeth black. The bark is used as a fish poison.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in peat swamp and coastal forests. It grows up to 200 m above sea level. It can be on alluvial or sandy soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Brunei, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nicobar Island, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore

How it is used for food

Edible parts

?

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bubu-nak, Gulungan hadik, Jambu huton, Kayu putat hitam, Putat, Putat darat, Putat paya, Putat rimba, Tampalang, Tatisai, Telisai

Synonyms

Barringtonia gitingensis Elmer; Barringtonia linggaensis R. Knuth; Barringtonia sumatrana Miq.; Doxomma sumatrana (Miq.) Miers; Michelia reticulata (Blume) Kuntze; Stravadium reticulatum Blume;