Krum puk, Brilliant Gardenia
Tamilnadia uliginosa

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-10 m tall. There are spines at the ends of the short shoots. The leaves are gathered in tufts on shortened branches. The leaves are 15 cm long by 7 cm wide. They are broadly oval. The flowers are white and 5 cm across and have a scent. The fruit is a berry 5 cm long. It is smooth and oval and turns yellow when ripe. The fruit is crowded with the remains of the outer ring of flower parts.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet dense forests. It grows on the Deccan in India. In Nepal it grows up to 300 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit and leaves give colouring and are eaten after cooking. The fruit are used as a vegetable. They are eaten in curries. They are soaked in water for a few hours to lose their astringent quality then squeezed and prepared. The green fruit are cooked then mixed with salt and chili peppers. The ripe fruit are cooked and eaten. The leaves are boiled and eaten.

The fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

In southern India plants fruit in April to June.

Its other names

Local names

Adka bare, Baadaga, Bonbongana, Chehepi, Gangati, Gangeda, Gengada, Gengdi, Goanka, Hinnisan kaya, Kala fendra, Kare, Katul, Kukkelaga, Maidal, Mainphal, Malankara, Nalla kakisha, Nallaika, Panar, Pannikara, Pedar, Pendaar, Pendari, Pendra, Perra, Perunkarai, Phetra, Pidar, Pindalu, Pindichakka, Pindru, Piralo, Pirar, Suskeng, Telephru, Telkur, Telpendhra, Wagatta

Synonyms

Catunaregam uliginosa (Retz.) Sivar.; Gardenia uliginosa Retz.; Posoqueria uliginosa (Retz.) Roxb.; Randia uliginosa (Retz.) DC.; Solena uliginosa (Retz.) D. Dietr.; Xeromphis uliginosa (Retz.) Maheshw.;