Horsfieldia kingii

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

A tree. The young shoots are hairy. The bark has shallow cracks and breaks into square flakes. It is reddish. The leaves are oval and taper to a blunt tip. The flowers are small. The fruit are about 2.5 cm long. There is a fleshy layer around the seed.

There are about 88 Horsfieldia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 400-900 m above sea level. It grows in dense forests in ravines between 800-1,200 m in southern China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. (They can cause intoxication). The fruit are also used for jam and pickles. The seeds are used as a substitute for betel nut.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

In southern China it flowers in April to August and fruits in October to December. In Sikkim January to April.

Its other names

Local names

Amol, Donglu-kung, Kaoul-kung, Mijing okum esing, Pandikachua, Ramgua, Ramguwah, Runchepat, Runehapot, Xangmau King

Synonyms

Horsfieldia hainanensis Merr.; Horsfieldia tetratepala C. Y. Wu & W. T. Wang; Myristica kingii Hook.f.;