Kostermanthus heteropetalus

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 35 m tall. The trunk is 2 m across. It has small, low buttresses. The bark has small cracks. The leaves are narrowly oval and leathery. They are 5-20 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are wedge shaped or rounded at the base. They taper to a blunt tip. The leaves are smooth but with small hairs on the veins. The flowering stalks have few branches and are 10 cm long. The flowers are bell shaped at the base and the lobes are fleshy and curve back. The petals are white with pink tinges. The petals are unequal. The fruit are oval and 4 cm long by 3 cm wide. They have a thick hard outer shell. The seeds are 1.5 cm long by 3 cm wide.

There are 2 Kostermanthus species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests on sandy clay soils up to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Merbatu, Rasak batu

Synonyms

Parinari heteropetalum Scort. ex King; Parinarium myriandrum Merr.; Acioa heteropetala (Scort. ex King) Kosterm.;