Duabanga grandiflora

Family: Lythraceae

What it is like

A tall evergreen tree. It grows to about 35 m high. It can be 60 m high. The trunk is smooth and greyish brown. It has hoop shaped ridges and leaf scars that are shaped like shields. The bark peels off in flakes. The leaves are 9-33 cm long by 4-11 cm wide. They are broadly sword shaped with a heart shaped base and a rounded tip. The flowers are white. They are held in large heads. The flowers come out at night. They have an unpleasant smell. The fruit is a capsule 3 cm across. It splits into 6 parts. There a 6 star shaped calyxes around the fruit. There are a large number of thread like seeds.

There are 2 Duabanga species. They have been included previously in the Sonneratiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows to about 1000 m altitude in Nepal. They grow along stream banks in warm moist climates. It can grow in areas that are occasionally flooded. It grows in hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, (Andamans, Nicobar), Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh. They have a sour taste. They are used for drinks. The young fruit are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, nectar

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown from large cuttings.

It grows quickly.

Its other names

Local names

Ba bao shu, Bandorhulla, Bang lang ban, Berembang bukit, Ga-zaw, Hkalam, Hojo gulo, Kamaung-yegyi, Kaung-laung, Kendada, Khukan, Kokan, Lampatey, Lampatia, Lampatti, Lampen, Lampu ki meo, Lin ngo, Lin-zin, Madane, Mai-kayong, Mai-sa-lao-long, Mai ten, Mau-lettan, Myaukngo, Nepal-lampetis, Ngawn-kai, Pani saj, Pedada bukit, Phay, Phay sung, Shala, Tadet-ko, Tadetti, Ta-kai, Ten, Thit-kazaw, Thora, Zuang

Synonyms

Duabanga sonneratioides Buch.-Ham.; Lagerstroemia grandiflora Roxb. ex DC.; Leptospartion grandiflorum (Roxb. ex DC.) Griffith;