Needle wood, Wallichii puspa tree
Schima wallichii

Family: Theaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 8 m high and spreads 6 m wide. It can be 20-30 m tall. The crown is dense and bushy. The bark is dark grey with cracks along it. The leaves are glossy. They are large, leathery and green. They are oblong or sword shaped and 9-24 cm long by 3.5-8 cm wide. They are bronze-red when young. They are arranged in spirals. The flowers are white. They have prominent yellow stamens. The flowers have a scent. They occur in the axils of leaves and are 3-5 cm across. The fruit are round and 1.3-1.8 cm across. They are warty. There are 2-6 seeds in each cell. They are surrounded by a paper wing.

There is only one Schima species.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It needs a humus-rich, acid soil. In India it is usually in the foothills and grows up to about 1,500 m altitude. Hobart Botanical Gardens? It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Tasmania, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Young twigs and leaves are eaten raw as well as cooked. They are boiled then cooked with rice. They are often cooked with other vegetables.

Shoots are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or half hardened cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Chilaune, Chilauney, Chilauni, Dieng-ngan, Kanak, Khaimasii, Khainsuri, Khai so, Khengthing, Khiang, Khieng, Khuzli gachi, Laukya, Laukya-byu, Mai-song, Makrisal, Masa, Mi, Nkiai, Oosoi, Pohon puspa wali, Thalo, Thit-yar, Thitya-byu, Thitya, Thutya-ni, Usoi, Voi thuoc, Zhokhaikhai

Synonyms

Cleyera mertensiana Sieb. & Zucc., Gordonia brevifolia Hook.f., Gordonia chilaunea Buch.-Ham., Gordonia floribunda Wall., Gordonia integerrima Teijsm. & Binn., Gordonia integrifolia Roxb., Gordonia javanica Hook.f., Gordonia lobii Hook.f., Gordonia mollis Wall., Gordonia oblata Roxb.; Gordonia sinensis Hemsl. & Wils.; Gordonia superba (Gard. & Champ.) Hook.f. & Thomson ex Dyer; Gordonia wallichii DC; Schima antherisosa Korth.; Schima argentea Pritz.; Schima bambusifolia Hu; Schima bancana Miq.; Schima beccarii Warb.; Schima boninensis Melch.; Schima boninensis Nakai; Schima brevipes Craib; Schima confertiflora Merr.; Schima crenata Korth.; Schima forrestii Airy Shaw; Schima hypoglauca Miq.; Schima hypochra Pierre; Schima javanica (Hook.f.) Szysz.; Schima kankaoensis Hayata; Schima khasiana Dyer; Schima liukiuensis Nakai; Schima lobii (Hook.f.) Pierre; Schima mairei Hochr.; Schima mertensiana (Sieb. & Zucc.) Koidzumi; Schima mollis Dyer; Schima monticola Kurz; Schima noronhae Reinw.; Schima noronhae var. boninensis Hayata; Schima oblata (Roxb.) Kurz; Schima pulgarensis Elmer; Schima rigida Miq.; Schima sericea Airy Shaw; Schima sinensis (Hemsl. & Wils.) Airy Shaw; Schima sulcinervia Miq.; Schima superba Gard. & Champ.; Schima villosa Hu;