Elaeocarpus prunifolius

Family: Elaeocarpaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 10-18 m high. Older trees have slight buttresses. The bark is grey and thin. The leaves are 9-17 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. There are shallow teeth. There are 6-10 pairs of arching side veins. The stalks are 2-4 cm long. They are slightly swollen at both ends. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They are 4-8 cm long. The fruit are 2 cm long and dark green. There are small cream dots. The fruit turn purple when ripe. The seeds are 1.5 cm long.

There are about 360 Elaeocarpus species mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In northeastern India it grows up to 1,350 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are sour.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In northeastern India plants flower and fruit September to November.

Its other names

Local names

Banghkri, Bon jalpai, Cm la-prun, Dieng-ruin, Soh-khyllam-eit-blang, Sunganeren, Syngkiahaitblang

Synonyms

Elaeocarpus robertsonii Gamble; Monocera prunifolia Mull.Berol.;