Mauli
Prunus wallichii

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows up to 12 m tall. The bark is brown and can be smooth or warty. The twigs are smooth and without hairs. The leaves are oval and 7-15 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. The base of the leaf ends in a sharp point while the tip tapers. There are 6-9 pairs of veins which often form distinct loops and join. The leaf stalk is 0.2-1 cm long. Flower clusters can be single or in a small bunch of 2-4. They are 2-10 cm long and in the axils of leaves. The petals are white. The fruit are oval and pear shaped. They are 10-22 mm long by 6-15 mm wide. They are purplish black when ripe with a fleshy payer. The seed have a smooth coat.

There are about 200 Prunus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountain forest mostly from 1,000 to 3,000 m altitude. It occasionally grows down to 600 m or up to 3,600 m.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Vangnuong Wallich

Synonyms

Cerasus acuminata Wall.; Cerasus wallichii (Steud.) M. Roem.; Prunus acuminata (Wall.) Dietr.; Laurocerasus wallichii (Steudel) Browicz; and others