Sour-relish wood
Melicope lunu-ankenda

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can grow up to 30 m high. The young branches can be velvety. The leaves are opposite and have 3 leaflets. The leaf stalks can be 2-15 cm long. The leaflets are narrowly oval and 4-23 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. They taper to the tip and the base is unequal. They have small hairs when young. The flowering bunches are in the axils of leaves. These are 2-32 cm long. The flowers are greenish-white and without stalks. The flowers are usually of one sex. The fruit are oval, 4-valved follicles having a cavity in the centre. They are 6-10 mm long. The seeds are round or flattened and 3-6 mm long.

There are about 150-233 species in Malaysia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can be in forest on well-drained or swampy land. It grows from sea level to 2,200 m above sea level. It grows on dry stony hills in south India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andaman islands, Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are used as a flavouring for food dishes. The leaves are sour in taste. They are also used for tea.

Edible parts

Spice, leaves as condiment

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Kanalei, Kattuchampakam, Kayu asam, Lunu melicope tree, Medang ketimang, Midauma-baphang, Pauh-pauh paya, Pohon melikope lunu, Sam ngam, Setenggek burong, U am

Synonyms

Ampacus aromatica (Blume) Kuntze; Euodia aromatica Blume; Euodia lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) Merr.; Euodia roxburghiana (Cham.) Benth.; Evodia lunu-ankenda (Gaertn.) Merrill; Evodia malayana Ridl.; Evodia roxburghiana Benth.; Zanthoxylon aromaticum (Blume) Miq.; Zanthoxylum roxburghiana (Cham.) Kuntze; and others