Chinese rice flower, Rice grain orchid
Aglaia odorata

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 5-8 m tall. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 3-7 leaflets opposite each other and these are 1-7 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The flowers are golden yellow. They grow in clusters along the branches. They droop and have a scent. They smell like cymbidiums and look like rice grains which gives it its Chinese name. Trees are separately male and female.

Used as a medicine in Indonesia. There are about 104 Aglaia species. They occur in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest. It needs a rich, fertile soil. It can grow in sun or light shade. It can grow in midly acidic or neutral soils. It needs a temperature above 15-18°C. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The dried flowers are used to flavour tea. The tender leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Flowers - flavouring, leaves,vegetable

How it is grown

Trees can be grown by air layering.

In China plants flower May to December and fruit July to March.

Its other names

Local names

Hom klai, Kai thian, Ka sum nok, Juran, Mi zi lan, Mizilan, Mock lime, Pacar cina, Peppery orchid tree, Prayong, San-yeh-lan, Thanatka-wa, Thanathka-pan, Trayang, Tro yong

Synonyms

Aglaia chaudocensis Pierre; Aglaia duperreana Pierre; Aglaia oblanceolata Craib; Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina C. DC.; Aglaia pentaphylla Kurz; Aglaia repoueuensis Pierre; Aglaia sinensis Pierre; Cammumium sinensis Rumph.; Camunium chinense Roxb.; Opilia odorata (Lour.) Spreng.;