Tam
Pegia nitida

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub that often leans over. It can be a woody climber. It is hairy. The leaves are compound. They are 20-40 cm long with leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. The leaflets are 4-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are small and white. They have a sweet scent. The fruit is fleshy and small and oblong. They are black when ripe. They are 10 mm long by 8 mm wide.

Where it is found

A subtropical plant. It grows in scrub forests in Assam up to 1,300 m above sea level. In southern China it grows in lowland hill forests between 500-1,800 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

In Thailand it flowers and fruits January to May.

Its other names

Local names

Bon am, Chutti lara, Da-cheng-brup, Dhindau bagurilata, Dhindou bogori, Du-cheng-brup, Hangding, Hongding, Lahari anp, Lomam, Mashul, Midi-takkir, Redin, Renchiling, Sirong-rik, Tam

Synonyms

Phlebochiton extensum Wall.; Robergia hirsuta Roxb.; Tapirira extensa (Wall.) Hook. f. ex Marchand Tapirira hirsuta (Roxb.) Hook.f.; Tapirira hirsuta (Roxb.) Hu;