Sacred garlic pear
Crateva religiosa

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

An evergreen or deciduous tree. It grows up to 7-15 m tall and 45 cm across the trunk. The tree spreads to 2-4 m across. The stem is erect and the bark is smooth, with branches low down. The leaves have long petioles, 2-9 cm long. The leaves are divided into 3 leaflets growing from the same point. The leaflets are pointed at the base and have a slender point at the tip. The two halves of the leaflets are unequal in size. The leaflets are 5-27 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The leaves are light green. The flowers are white, then yellow, turning pale violet and they are large, up to 5-7 cm across. They are borne in large bunches 3-14 cm long. These are near the ends of branches. The fruit is rounded and about 6-15 cm long by 5-9 cm across. They are sausage shaped. The fruit is edible. There are many seeds, which are kidney shaped.

There are 6 Crateva species. The tree is planted near graves and religious sites.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to SE Asia and Australia. It prefers moist soils and an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It can tolerate temporary flooding. Found in waste places near streams and in areas of shrubs, near the sea from northern Luzon to Masbate and Palawan and probably also in Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. In Nepal it grows to about 1500 m altitude. It needs a temperature above 15°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Gambia, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Polynesia, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Truk, Vietnam, West Africa, Yap

How it is used for food

The fruit are edible. Usually they are cooked. The tender leaves and buds are boiled and squeezed to lessen the bitterness then cooked as a vegetable or pickled. The flowers are pickled and eaten.

Leaves are sold in local markets in Nepal.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, flowers, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh. Plants can be grown from cuttings or root suckers.

A slow growing plant.

Its other names

Local names

Abeech, Abiyuch, Apuch, Apus, Balai-lamok, Bannya, Barna, Barun, Bidasi, Bun, Dala, Dangla hantu, Garlic pear, Gudai, Ingigido, Jaranan, Kadoppsung, Kemantu hitam, Kum nam, Lunuwarana, Naiko, Sipligan, Siplekan, Temple Plant, Three-leaved caper, Ungudidi, Ungududu, Varuna

Synonyms

Crateva brownii Korth. ex Miq.; Crateva hansemannii K. Schum.; Crateva macrocarpa Kurz; Crateva magna (Lour.) DC.; Crateva membranifolia Miq.; Crateva religiosa var. vurnula (Buch.-Ham.) Hook.f. & Thomson; Crateva speciosa Volkens;