Bitterwood tree
Picrasma javanica

Family: Simaroubaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 24 m tall. The trunk is 35 cm across. The bark is smooth and brittle. The leave are compound with 5-7 leaflets. The leaflets are 4-20 cm long by 1-10 cm wide. They are wedge shaped at the base and taper to the tip. The flowers are in compound groups in the axils of leaves. These are 20 cm long and male and female flowers are separate. Female flowers are twice as long as the male. The flowers are white to yellow. The fruiting body has 1-4 fruit. These are fleshy and oval or a flattened round shape. They are 9-10 mm long by 7-12 mm wide.

It is an unresolved name in The Plant List.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the rainforest up to 1,500 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon kayu pahit, Taing-kamaka

Synonyms

Zanthoxylum javanicum Walp.;