Large sebesten
Cordia obliqua

Family: Boraginaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 10.5 m tall. The trunk can be 70 cm across. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are alternate and oval. They are 10 cm long by 5.5 cm wide. Young leaves are hairy underneath. The flowers are small and white. They are 6 mm wide and smooth on short stalks. They are in clusters of up to 15 flowers. The fruit is fleshy and 1.75 cm across. They are light yellowish-green. The skin is thick and there is a hard stone with 2 seeds.

There are about 300 Cordia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Puerto Rico it grows at low altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antigua and Barbuda, Asia, Barbados, Caribbean, Cuba, Himalayas (country/location of origin), India (country/location of origin), Mediterranean, Mexico, North America, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

How it is used for food

The young fruit are pickled and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

A tree can produce 30 kg of fruit in a year. Fruit are harvested when fully ripe.

Its other names

Local names

Lasura

Synonyms

Probably a synonym of Cordia dichotoma Forsk.; Cordia wallichii; Cordia latifolia;