Hymenocardia punctata

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1-4 m tall. The bark is grey-brown. The leaf stalks are 1 cm long. The leaf blade is 2-9 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The base is rounded or wedge shaped and it tapers to the tip. The male flowers are in catkins 2.5 cm long. The flowers are red to purple. The female flowers are in groups 1.5 cm long. They are brown. The fruit is heart shaped and 1.6 cm long by 1.2 cm wide. It is brownish-green to yellow.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in clear and flooded forests. It grows from sea level to 235 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to provide an acid element in some dishes. They are cooked as a curry vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In NE Thailand fruit are available March to June.

Its other names

Local names

Hu dang, Hu ling, Kang pla khao, Komkhneang, Mak faep, Phaeb nam, Phnom Phnaeng, Ye-gin, Yegyin

Synonyms

Hymenocardia laotica Gagnep.; Hymenocardia wallichii Tul.; Hymenocardia wallichii var. dasycarpa Gagnep.; Samaropyxis elliptica Miq.;