Malva nut
Scaphium macropodum

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 15-45 m tall. The trunk can be 80 cm across. The leaves are oval and are rounded at the base. They are simple and alternate and have long leaf stalks. The leaves on young trees have lobes like fingers on a hand. The leaves are oval and 15-25 cm long by 7-12 cm wide. The flowers are in panicles and are small and pale yellow. The fruit are large papery follicles. They form a boat shaped structure with one seed on one end. The wings can be 22 cm long.

Also put in the family Sterculiaceae. The fruit are used as medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet dense forests between 300 and 600 m altitude in Indochina. It can be up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The dried arillus (layer around the seeds) is soaked in water to give a sweet drink. This is called 'cheng tng'. The flesh of the fruit is soaked in water to obtain a jelly like texture than is then used as a dessert.

The dried fruits are sold in markets. Dried fruit are sold in Chinese shops in Australia.

Edible parts

Fruit, nuts, seed

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Kembang semangkok, Luoi uoi, Mai chong, Pohon tempayang, Samrang

Synonyms

Carpophyllum macropodum Miq.; Firmiana borneensis Merr.; Scaphium borneense (Merr.) Kosterm.; Sterculia macropoda (Miq.) Hook. ex Kloppenb.;