Jack mango, White mango
Mangifera caesia

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

The large tree. It reaches a height of 25-45 m. The trunk can be 50-120 cm across. It does not have buttresses. The branches are large and the crown is dome shaped. The bark is greyish-brown. It has slight cracks along its length and the sap causes irritation. The leaves are smooth and pointed at both ends. They are normally 10-12 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. They are shiny above and paler underneath. The leaves are often crowded at the ends of the stout branches. The leaf stalk is stout and flattened and 1-2 cm long. The flowering stalks are at the ends of branches and are 15-40 cm long. The flowers are pale pink and there are many on a stalk. The petals are narrow and 10 mm long and do not curve backwards as in mango. The fruit resembles the common mango. They are 12-15 cm long by 6-7 cm wide. Some fruit are excellent. The skin is yellow-brown and the flesh is yellow-white.

There are about 40 Mangifera species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the lowland tropics. They grow in the humid tropics. They are often in areas which are occasionally flooded and swamp areas. It is found in Mindanao and neighbouring islands of Sulu in the Philippines. In Borneo it grows up to 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, East Timor, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia (country/location of origin), Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The fleshy part of the fruit is eaten raw. It is juicy and sweet-sour. They can be pickled. They are used as a substitute for tamarind. The seed kernels are pounded with Blackberried nightshade and used as a flavouring. The young leaves are eaten raw to flavour other food.

It is a well known fruit tree. It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds. It can also be grafted.

Fruit ripen 3 months after flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Asam kawbawang, Balanu, Baluno, Banjar, Bauno, Bayuno, Beenjai, Beluno, Belunu, Bin-yaa, Bindjai, Binglu, Binjai, Binnu, Bundo, Bunduh, Dendahan, Jack, Kemang, Lanyat, Ondo, Pohon mangga bingloe, Wani, Wanji

Synonyms

Mangifera foetida 2 Rumph.; Mangifera caesia var. kemanga (Bl.) Kosterm.; Mangifera caesia Jack var. verticillata (C.B. Rob.) Mukherji; Mangifera caesia Jack var. wanji Kostm.; Mangifera kemanga Bl.; Mangifera polycarpa Griff.; Mangifera verticillata C. B. Rob.;