Elaeocarpus braceanus

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-15 m high. The bark is brown. The small branches have rusty brown hairs. The leaf stalk is 1-3 cm long. The leaves are dark green above and have rusty brown hairs underneath. The leaves are 10-18 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. They are thin and leathery. The flowers are groups in the axils of fallen leaves. These are 10-15 cm long. The flowers contain both sexes. The fruit are oval and fleshy. They are 4 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. They are yellow. There is one seed about 2 cm long.

There are about 360 Elaeocarpus species mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Yunnan in China it grows between 1000-3000 m above sea level. It grows in subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Tibet

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or salted.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dian zang du ying, Kelila, Thit-pwe

Synonyms

Elaeocarpus shunningensis Hu;