Motley's rambai
Baccaurea motleyana

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 20 m tall. The trunk is 40 cm across. The tree is densely leafy. The leaves are simple. They are glossy. The underside of the leaves is velvety. The leaves are sword shaped and 20-35 cm long by 8-17 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 3-10 cm long. Trees are separately male and female. Flowers hang from the branches. Male flowers are small and pale yellowish-green. They do not have petals. They have a sweet scent. The female flowers are larger. The fruit hang on strings from the twigs. Each fruit is about 2-4 cm across. They have a smooth thin skin. The pulp is white and let's light through. It contains several seeds. The seeds are fairly large. They are flat and brown.

There are about 80 Baccaurea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot humid lowland tropics. It needs a warm frost free position. It grows from 15 to 500 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brunei, China, Indochina, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh, stewed and made into jam. The more acid fruit are cooked. The fruit are fermented in a drink. They are also used for vinegar.

It is a cultivated tree.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown by air-layering and grafting.

Trees fruit 3 years after planting.

Its other names

Local names

Asam lambun, Bua trai, Buah jentik, Daun tien, Gadu guda, Himbabalod, Jelintik, Kepundung, Lamkhae, Limpahung, Maa-fai, Mafai-farang, Mah-fai, Mangkau, Mari-kau-napula, Menteng, Muna mudakkan, Pekang, Pohon rambai matae, Putat, Ra mai, Rambai, Rambe, Rambeh, Rambi, Ramei, Rumbai, Tampoi, Ulup lavae

Synonyms

Baccaurea pubescens Pax. & K. Hoffm.; Pierardia motleyana Muell. Argoviensis;