Putat gajah, Putat tuba, Putat hutan
Barringtonia scortechinii

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A spreading tree. It grows 7-20 m tall. It can be up to 40 m tall. The trunk can be 3-40 cm across. It can have buttresses 2 m high. The bark is scaly and with fine cracks along it. It is brown or red and peels off in small flakes. The leaves are slightly rough. They are glossy bright green. The leaf stalk is 5 cm long. The leaf blade is oval to oblong and 8-21 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The flowers are on a long stalk that hangs down. It can be 70 cm long. There can be 65 flowers. They are like tubes with 3-4 lobes. They are greenish-white or pinkish-red. The fruit is oval and is a one seeded berry. It is 10-12 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It has 8 ridges. It is green with a reddish tinge. The young fruit are 4 sided with distinct wings. The seed is oval and 5-6 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are yellow-white.

There are about 40 Barringtonia species. The seeds and bark are used as fish poison.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest at low altitudes. It can grow up to 1400 m altitude. It grows in swampy forests and near streams.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to flavour food.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit, spice

How it is grown

It flowers and fruits year round.

Its other names

Local names

Jauh, Kopital, Langsat burung, Putat gajah, Putat tuba, Tampalang, Tempalang, Terakot

Synonyms

Barringtonia scortechinii var. globosa Craib;