Silverback tree, Mempoyan tree
Rhodamnia cinerea

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 37 m tall. The trunk can be 50 cm across. The leaves are opposite and simple. They are hairy and white underneath. The flowers are 8 mm across. They are white to yellow. They are in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are 7 mm across. They are pink to red.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in coastal and mixed forests up to 1,700 m above sea level. It can be on poor sandy soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon andong, Pohon mempoyan, Siri-siri, Talinga basing

Synonyms

Monoxora spectabilis (Blume) Wight; Myrtus globosa Korth.; Myrtus smilacifolia Wall.; Myrtus spectabilis Blume; Rhodamnia concolor Miq.; Rhodamnia globosa (Korth.) Blume; Rhodamnia nagelii Miq.; Rhodamnia spectabilis (Blume) Blume; Rhodamnia subtriflora Blume; Rhodamnia trinervia var. concolor (Miq.) Kurz; Rhodamnia trinervia var. spectabilis (Blume) Kurz;