False soap-berry
Spondias lakonensis

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 15-20 m tall. The trunk is 80-100 cm across. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are compound and 20-45 cm long with leaflets that are opposite and with one at the end. The leaves have 31-51 leaflets. They are 6-10 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They taper to the tip and are obliquely rounded at the base. The flowers are creamy white and small and in groups in the axils of leaves and in groups 15-30 cm long at the ends of branches. The fruit is oval and fleshy. They are 8-12 mm long by 8-9 mm wide. The fruit are in clusters and red and have 4 cavities near the end.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near dry forest and often along streams. It grows in deep, well-drained soils. It grows up to 800 m above sea level. In Yunnan and Hainan.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten raw. The fruit are acidic and sweet.

It is a cultivated plant. Fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Ching Tau Shue, Dau da xoan, Ma ho

Synonyms

Allospondias lakonensis (Pierre) Stapf.; Poupartia chinensis Merr.; Spondias chinensis (Merr.) Metc.; Tetramyxis bonii Gagnep.; Tetramyxis pellegrinii Gagnep.; Tetramyxis rubescens Gagnep.;