Pithraj tree
Aphanamixis polystachya

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 20 m tall. The trunk can be 70 cm across. The young leaves are red. The leaflets are narrowly oblong and unequal on the sides. The flowers are yellow to bronze and waxy. The fruit are 2-4 cm across and pink or red. The seeds have an orange oily aril or fleshy layer.

The oil from the seeds is used for lighting. An unresolved name in The Plant List.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen and swamp forest. In deciduous forests it is near streams. In Thailand it grows between 10-1,360 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The young fruit are used as a vegetable. The fruit are pickled.

Fruit are occasionally sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Plants flower and fruit December to March. In Thailand they commonly flower April to August and fruit August to March.

Its other names

Local names

Bagi-rata, Chaya-kaya, Heirangkhoi, Horitaki, Khamin dong, Lao hang, Lasunay, Ma-a, Mahang kan, Pitraj, Pohon kayu gula, Pohon pitraya, Sang khriat ko hok, Ta pu, Ta suea, Ta-gat-net, Than-that-gyi, Thit-ni, Tum dong

Synonyms

Aglaia aphanamixis Pellegr. [Illegitimate]; Aglaia beddomei (Kosterm.) S.S.Jain & R.C.Gaur; Aglaia cochinchinensis (Pierre) Pellegr.; Aglaia janowskyi Harms; Aglaia polystachya Wall.; Alliaria cuneata (Hiern) Kuntze; Amoora amboinensis Miq.; Amoora beddomei Kosterm.; Amoora cumingiana C.DC.; Amoora elmeri Merr.; Amoora grandifolia Walp.; Amoora janowskyi (Harms) Kosterm.; Amoora myrmecophila Warb.; Amoora polillensis C.B.Rob.; Amoora polystachya (Wall.) Steud.; Amoora rohituka (Roxb.) Wight & Arn.; Andersonia rohituka Roxb.; Aphanamixis agusanensis Elmer [Invalid]; Aphanamixis amboinensis (Miq.) Harms; Aphanamixis apoensis Elmer [Invalid]; Aphanamixis blumei Span. [Invalid]; Aphanamixis cochinchinensis Pierre; Aphanamixis coriacea Merr.; Aphanamixis cumingiana (C.DC.) Harms; Aphanamixis davaoensis Elmer [Invalid]; Aphanamixis elmeri (Merr.) Merr.; Aphanamixis grandifolia Blume; Aphanamixis lauterbachii Harms; Aphanamixis macrocalyx Harms; Aphanamixis myrmecophila (Warb.) Harms; Aphanamixis obliquifolia Elmer [Invalid]; Aphanamixis perrottetiana A.Juss.; Aphanamixis pinatubensis Elmer; Aphanamixis polillensis (C.B.Rob.) Merr.; Aphanamixis rohituka (Roxb.) Pierre; Aphanamixis schlechteri Harms; Aphanamixis sinensis F.C.How & T.C.Chen; Aphanamixis timorensis A.Juss.; Aphanamixis tripetala (Blanco) Merr.; Aphanamixis velutina Elmer [Invalid]; Canarium vrieseo-teysmannii H.J.Lam; Chuniodendron spicatum Hu; Chuniodendron yunnanense Hu; Dysoxylum cuneatum Hiern; Dysoxylum spiciflorum Zipp. ex Miq. [Invalid]; Epicharis cuneata (Hiern) Harms; Ricinocarpodendron polystachyum (Wall.) Mabb.; Sphaerosacme polystachya Wall.; Sphaerosacme spicata Wall.; Trichilia tripetala Blanco;