Beraliya
Shorea megistophylla

Family: Dipterocarpaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows about 40 m tall. The leaves are 13-23 cm long by 5-15 cm wide. They are large and oblong and thickly rough. The flowers are in a group 13 cm long and 3 mm wide. This is branched with side branches 3 cm long with 6 flowers. The flowers are white. The fruit stalk is 8 mm long and stout.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest in Sri Lanka.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Sri Lanka (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are dried and ground into flour and used in a dish called pittu.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit-vegetable

How it is grown

Plants flower between February and April.

Its other names

Local names

Honda beraliya, Kana beraliya, Mahaberaliya

Synonyms

Doona macrophylla Thwaites;