Sundri
Heritiera fomes

Family: Malvaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It keeps its leaves throughput the year. It grows 15-25 m tall. The roots are shallow and spreading and send up breathing roots. The trunk has buttresses. The bark is cracked along its length. The tree has few branches and an open canopy. The leaves are oval and leathery and are usually clustered near the ends of twigs. The flowers are bell shaped and pink or orange. They are 5 mm across. They are in groups. The fruit or seed bearing structures are 5 cm long by 4 cm wide.

There are about 35 Heritiera species. Also put in the family Sterculiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mangroves. It grows in less salty areas and on drier ground. It does well on clay soil that are only occasionally flooded.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, India, Indochina, Indo-malesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

It is a famine food. It grows in large stands in Bangladesh.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Jekanazo, Kamazo, Pinlekanazo, Sunder, Sundri, Ye-kanazo

Synonyms

Amygdalus minor (Roxb.) Kuntze; Heritiera minor (Gaertn.) Roxb.;