Melientha
Melientha suavis

Family: Opiliaceae

What it is like

A shrub 4-8 m tall. It can grow to 13 m tall. The trunk is 25 cm across. The trunk is straight and cylindrical. The leaves are oval. They are 6-12 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 1-3 mm long. The flowers can be in groups of singly. They can grow from branches of in the axils of leaves. The male and female flowers occur on separate trees. They are green. The fruit is fleshy and with a hard stone inside. It is 2.3-3 cm long by 1.5-1.7 cm wide. It is yellow

Caution: People have been poisoned in Cambodia because they confused this plant with the poisonous Urobotrya siamensis.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dense forests. It often grows on limestone mountains.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten cooked as a vegetable. The young leaves, shoots and flowers are served as a vegetable in soups of in dried fish curry. The ripe fruit are eaten. Caution: There is a similar looking plant that is poisonous.

The leaves are a very attractive food. They are occasionally sold in markets. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. The fully ripe seeds are collected and the flesh removed. The seeds are then cleaned and soaked overnight before sowing in the field where they are to grow. A spacing of 2-3 m is suitable. Seeds germinate in about 3 months.

Seedlings grow slowly for the first 2 years.

Its other names

Local names

Daam prec, Hvaan, Malatado, Pakwanpha, Phak waan paa, Phak waan, Phak wan ba, Prech, Prechprey, Prich, Rau sang, Sang, Slerk prich, Tangal, Waan, Ze-la-phu-me-la-kla

Synonyms

Melientha acuminata Merr.;