Blood horsfieldia tree
Horsfieldia sylvestris

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 15-20 m tall with fairly straight trunk and long narrow leaves. The leaves droop. The leaves are mid green above and more pale underneath. The yellow pointed fruit hang singly on short stalks along the branches. The fruit is orange on the outside with yellow flesh around a red coated seed. Male and female flowers are separate.

There are about 88 Horsfieldia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. The tree occurs in the Moluccas and Papua New Guinea, but not in the New Guinea Islands. They occur in primary forest on sandy or clayey soils. They are mainly in the coastal plain. They probably need some shade in the seedling stage.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The flesh around the seed is eaten raw. They are sour.

In Papua New Guinea, a fruit tree cultivated at least at Kawito near Balimo in the Western Province.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves as condiment, spice

How it is grown

Trees are planted from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Pendarahan, Pohon penarahan darah, Pohon penarahan kumpang

Synonyms

Myristica sylvestris Hout.; Myristica edulis F.v.Muller;