Red balam tree
Payena acuminata

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 42 m high. The trunk is 90 cm across. There are buttresses 2.6 m high. The twigs are 1-5 mm thick. They have golden hairs. The leaves are papery or thinly leathery. They are oblong and 12-28 cm long by 3.5-9.5 cm wide. They are broadest in the middle. They are smooth above and hairy underneath. They taper to the tip and the base is unequal There are 18-27 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers are white. The fruit is oval and 30-35 mm long.

There are about 15 Payena species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland and hill forests up to 1,300 m altitude. It is usually below 600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and by grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Bee-taul, Beitis, Cha kun, Jenkot, Lake, Malau pedara, Manatu, Monongan, Natu, Nayah, Nyatoh merah, Nyatoh rian, Phikun pa, Pohon balam merah, Pohon nyatoh merah, Sambon, Sendi, Tan yong, Tingkawang

Synonyms

Bassia sericea Blume; Isonandra pulchra Burck; Madhuca acuminata (Blume) Baehni; Mimusops acuminata Blume; Payena acuminata var. acuminata (Blume) A. Bruggen; Payena acuminata var. pulchra (Burck) A. Bruggen; Payena sericea var. pulchra (Burck) H. J. Lam; Payena sericea var. typica H. J. Lam;