Malayan mombin
Spondias pinnata
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 15-40 m high. The trunk can be 60-100 cm across. The leaves are 20-60 cm long and made up of several leaflets. The leaves and leaflets are carried alternately. The leaflets are pointed at the tip and rounded at the base. The leaflets are 7 to 14 cm long by 2.5-6 cm wide. There are 5-11 leaflets with a leaflet at the end. The flowers are in a long panicle at the ends of branches. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are rounded and yellow with an edible pulp around a fibrous stone. The fruit can be 4-7 cm long.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia. It grows in secondary semi deciduous forest. In Vietnam it is below 1,000 m altitude. It needs sunlight. It can tolerate drought and grow on poor soils. They are found in forests at low altitude from Luzon to Mindanao in the Philippines. In Nepal it grows between 300-1400 m altitude. It grows in areas with a maximum temperature between 38°-45°C. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cuba, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies, West Timor
How it is used for food
The fleshy portion of the ripe fruit is eaten raw. It is sour-sweet. They are also pickled. Seeds are also eaten. The fruit are eaten as a vegetable when green. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. They are used for flavouring. The flowers are sour and eaten raw or used in curries or used as a flavouring. The unripe fruit are used in chutneys, stews, pickles, and jams.
The leaves and fruit are sold in local markets. It is a cultivated food plant.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, flowers
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Seedlings need to be transplanted very carefully. They can also be grown by cuttings.
Plants start to fruit after 4-5 years. In NE India fruit are available May to November.
Its other names
Local names
Adavimaamidi, Amara, Amaratoko, Amaro, Amaru, Amatekaye, Amato, Amb, Ambada, Ambalam, Ambaletong, Ambara, Ambaru, Ambattemara, Ambazham, Ambhazham, Ambiram, Ambra, Ambula, Amda, Amna, Amodo, Amora, Amora, Ampallai, Amra jouru, Amra, Amratenga, Amta, Anara, Anbada, Arbaru, Bahamb, Bak kawek, Bashok, Bilati amra, Bile tree, Bon amrah, Buah amra, Buah larah, Bwe-baung, Ciruela cochinera, Coc chua, Coc rung, Chiming, Daun kedondong, Deshi-amra, Dieng-soh-pair-kynthai, Ding-kok, Dorge, Dorgu dorge, Eginam, Emberella, Emungthi, Ga li le biu, Galinu, Go, Gooddamate, Gue, Guo, Gwe, Heining, Hpunnam-makawk, Ibangam, Ivurumaamidi, Jangli am, Jongmot, Kaadamate, Kataambolam, Katamara, Kathimagirangai, Kattuma, Kawk, Khatakumba, Khatambni, Kok khao, Ko:k ku:k, Kok kuk, Kok-mong, Kondamaanidi, Kotamara, Kraa-phai, Kuk, Kushi, Libas, Ma-kok, Mai-kawk, Maimuguo, Makawk, Mak kok, Makok pa, Malai, Mamedi, Manpuli, Manpulichi, Marahunsie, Mari-man-chedi, Mezi, Mirrey manga, Mkark prey,Mokak, Mo-kak prey, Njing-chi, Pailuo, Pei nuo, Peilou, Phai, Pi luo si, Pohon kedongdong pinata, Poondi, Puliman, Pullipullama, Pwe-baung, Ranamba, Ranchi ling, Rumkung, Seming, Shilashi, Siming, Sli soh repid, Sudam, Taisuri, Taitaw, Tawi-taw, Thaisudi, Thaisuri, Theikhong-chom, Touramaamidi, Traveller's delight, Tuaiteng, Vrykshamla, Wild mango
Synonyms
Manifera pinnata Koenig ex L.f.; Pouteria pinnata (L.f.) Blanco; Spondias acuminata Roxb. non Gamble; Spondias amara Lamk.; Spondias bivenomarginalis K. M. Feng & Mao; Spondias mangifera Willd.; Tetrastigma megalocarpum W. T. Wang;