Buff mahogany tree
Dysoxylum alliaceum
Family: Meliaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows up to 38 m tall. All parts smell of onion. The trunk can be 80 cm across. It is fluted at the base. It can have buttresses. The leaves are compound with leaflets in pairs but no leaflet at the end. There are 3-8 pairs of leaflets. The leaves can be 60 cm or longer. The leaf stalk is 5-15 cm long. The leaflets are oval and 7.5-25 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. The flowers are close together with short stalks. The flowering stalk can be 40 cm long. The flowers have a sweet scent. The fruit capsule is 7.5 cm across. It can be 25 cm long and is constricted between the seeds. There are 1-4 seeds per capsule. The seeds are oblong and red.
There are about 80 Dysoxylum species. They occur in Asia and the Pacific in the tropics.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest. It also grows on limestone. It is usually near streams. It grows up to 1800 m altitude.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andaman Islands, Asia, Australia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
Fresh leaves are cooked with fish to give an onion flavour. The seeds are used with ginger to prepare a sauce. The dried seeds have been used as a garlic substitute.
Edible parts
Leaves, seeds, spice
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Beka-beka bukit, Cape York cedar, Ch(awj)c kh(ees), Kalimutain, Kambutong, Kasai tembaga, Kayu bawang, Ki bawang, Kulim burong, Kuling-bubui, Langsat munyit, Langsat-langsat, Latak manuk, Longkang bawang, Marburung, Paluahan, Pela, Pohon kedoya bawang, Sibaumater bau, Ta suea khao
Synonyms
Aglaia oligosperma (Pierre) Pellegr.; Alliaria acuminatissima (Blume) Kuntze; Alliaria costulata (Miq.) Kuntze; Alliaria fraterna (Miq.) Kuntze; Alliaria glabra (C.DC.) Kuntze; Alliaria lamponga (Miq.) Kuntze; Alliaria miqueliana (C.DC.) Kuntze; Alliaria nageliana (C.DC.) Kuntze; Alliaria similis (Blume) Kuntze; Alliaria thyrsoidea (Hiern) Kuntze; Alliaria vrieseana (C.DC.) Kuntze; Amoora oligosperma Pierre; Chisocheton dempoense Baker.f.; Dysoxylum aculeatissimum Steud.; Dysoxylum acuminatissimum Blume; Dysoxylum alliaceum var. angustifolium Valet.; Dysoxylum alliaceum var. genuinum Valet.; Dysoxylum alliaceum var. lanceolatum Koord. & Valet.; Dysoxylum alliaceum var. laxiflorum (Blume) C. DC.; Dysoxylum alliaceum var. pauciflorum Koord. & Valet.; Dysoxylum apoense Elmer; Dysoxylum archboldianum Merr. & L. M. Perry; Dysoxylum brachycalcyninum Harms; Dysoxylum brevipes Hiern; Dysoxylum costulatum (Miq.) Miq.; Dysoxylum dempoense (Baker. f.) Harms; Dysoxylum euphlebium Merr.; Dysoxylum excelsum var. glabriflorum Miq.; Dysoxylum fraternum Miq.; Dysoxylum glabrum C. DC.; Dysoxylum klemmei Merr.; Dysoxylum lampongum Miq.; Dysoxylum lanceolatum Elmer; Dysoxylum laxiflorum Blume; Dysoxylum longifolium Blume; Dysoxylum miquelianum C. DC.; Dysoxylum monticola Harms; Dysoxylum nagelianum C. DC.; Dysoxylum platyphyllum Merr.; Dysoxylum pulchrum Ridl.; Dysoxylum rostratum Merr.; Dysoxylum sattelbergense Merr. & L. M. Perry; Dysoxylum simile Blume; Dysoxylum thyrsoideum Hiern; Dysoxylum thyrsoideum var. andamanicum King; Dysoxylum vrieseanum C.DC.; Guarea alliacea Blume; Guarea axillaris Blume; Guarea foetida Blume; Hartighsea costulata Miq.; Prasoxylon alliaceum (Blume) M. Roem.; Trichilia similis (Blume) Spreng.;