Cratoxylum formosum subsp. pruniflorum

Family: Hypericaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows 3-12 m tall. It has an open crown and slender branches. The bark is dark grey and cracked. The young leaves often have long woody spines. The leaves are 5-14 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. Young leaves are red. The leaves are bright green and have 7-12 pairs of clear veins that join in loops near the edge. The flowers are pale pink. They are in clusters of 3-5. The fruit are 1.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. They are dark brown and narrowly oval. They split into 3 sections each with 12-17 seeds.

Also put in the family Clusiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in sparse secondary forests, thickets in mountain regions up to 1000 m altitude in China. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are edible but sour. They are eaten with other vegetables or used in sour soups.

Young leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Do ngon, Hong ya mu, Lo-ngie ach'kon, Pohon mampat dadu, Thanh ngang dep, Tiew daeng

Synonyms

Cratoxylum dasyphyllum Handel-Mazzetti; Cratoxylum pentadelphum Turcz.; Cratoxylum pruniflorum (Kurz) Kurz; Tridesmis pruniflora Kurz;