False pittosporum, Jai hai tong
Pittosporopsis kerrii

Family: Icacinaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 4-7 m high but can be higher. The bark is red brown. The leaf blade is shiny and light green underneath. The leaves are 12-22 cm long by 4-8 cm wide. The flowers are 1 cm across and white or pale green. The fruit is fleshy and light green. They are edible when young. They are about 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. The seeds are light brown.

There is only one Pittosporopsis species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dense valley forests between 300-1,600 m altitude in Yunnan in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are roasted and eaten. The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ha piao mei che

Synonyms

Pittopsoropsis nervosa Gagnepain; Pittosporum nervosum (Gagnepain) Gowda; Stemonurus yunnanensis Hu;