Markhamia tree, Ma ye
Markhamia stipulata

Family: Bignoniaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 5-15 m tall. Young plant parts have yellow hairs. The leaves are 30-55 cm long. There are 4-8 pairs of leaflets. These are narrowly oval and 12-23 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. They are broadly wedge shaped at the base and taper to the tip. There may be teeth along the edge. The flowering groups at the ends of branches have yellow hairs. The flowers are 10-14 cm across and yellow. The fruit is a narrow capsule 30-70 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. The seeds are 3-5 cm long. They have wings on both ends.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in sparse forests in humid places between 300-1,700 m above sea level. It grows in limestone mountains. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flowers are boiled as a vegetable or cooked in stir-fried dishes. The young fruit are also cooked and eaten. The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

The leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by cuttings.

In NE Thailand flowers and fruit are available October to December.

Its other names

Local names

Dakpor, Dok khae, Khae hua moo, Kwe, Lao gei, Ma-hlwa, Mai-kye, Mao dei fan, Mayu-de, Pauk-kyan, Pohon markhamia, Xie xie a yi

Synonyms

Bignonia stipulata (Wall.) Roxb.; Markhamia cauda-felina (Hance) Craib; Markhamia indica P.H.Ho; Spathodea stipulata Wall.; Spathodea velutina Kurz; and several others