Malatumbaga
Aglaia elliptica

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows up to 25 m tall. The trunk is 50 cm across. It has buttresses. The leaves are alternate and compound. They have 5-7 pairs of leaflets and one at the end. They are smooth and pointed at both ends. They can have rusty hairs. The flowers are small, yellow and borne in large compound flower clusters. The fruit is an almost round berry. It is red. It has a hard outer covering. It is 2-2.5 cm across. It has one seed. The layer around the seed or aril is edible.

The bark and leaves are used in medicine. There are about 104 Aglaia species. They occur in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in forests up to a medium altitude. It grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. In Thailand it grows between 30-1,400 m above sea level. It is often in swamp forest and places that are occasionally flooded. It is common and widely distributed throughout the Philippines.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten. It has a flavour like cranberry.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Thailand flowering is most common between April to July and fruiting March to July.

Its other names

Local names

Hagasan, Mamonak, Melatumbaga, Pohon langsat bajing, Pohon langsat gajah, Sang khong, Sang khriat, Sang khriat cho, Tanglar

Synonyms

Aglaia apoana Merr.; Aglaia banahaensis Elmer ex Merr.; Aglaia baramensis Merr.; Aglaia caulobotrys Quisumn. & Merr.; Aglaia cinnamomea Baker f.; Aglaia harmsiana Perkins; Aglaia havilandii Ridley; Aglaia inaequalis Teijsm. & Binn.; Aglaia lagunensis Merr.; Aglaia lancifolia (Hook.f.) Harms; Aglaia langlassei C. DC.; Aglaia longipetiolata Elmer; Aglaia marginata Craib; Aglaia menandonensis Koord.; Aglaia micrantha Merr.; Aglaia moultonii Merr.; Aglaia ovata Teijsm. & Binn.; Aglaia oxypetala Valeton; Aglaia palawanensis Merr.; Aglaia pauciflora Merr.; Aglaia reinwardtii Miq.; Aglaia robinsonii Merr.; Aglaia stapfii Koord.; Aglaia tayabensis Merr.; Aglaia tembelingensis M. R. Hend.; Aglaia trunciflora Merr.; Aglaia villosa (C. DC.) Merr.; Aglaiopsis lancifolia (Hook.f.) Miq.;