Giant crepe myrtle, Banaba
Lagerstroemia speciosa
Family: Lythraceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 20 m tall. The trunk is short and twisted. The crown is dense and rounded. The brown is cream grey and peels in thin flakes. The leaves are 8-18 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. Leaves are smooth. Old leaves become orange-red. The flowers are 5-8 cm across. They are bright pink to purple. They are in clusters 30-40 cm long near the crown. The fruit are 2-3 cm wide.
The leaf extract is used to lower blood sugar in diabetes.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests and along roadsides in Vietnam. In Rockhampton Botanical gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China, Dominican Republic, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia (country/location of origin), Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, West Indies
How it is used for food
The young leaves are used as a raw vegetable. Caution: Pregnant women should probably not use the leaves.
Leaves are sold in markets.
Edible parts
Leaves - tea, dried fruit - tea
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Bang lang nuoc, Gawkng-uchyamang, Hani, Jarul, Mai-sa-hpong, Pohon bungur raty, Pyinma, Pyinma-yetthey, Thwemu