Tao lan, Peach canarium
Planchonella annamensis

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree 15-20 m tall. The bark is grey. The small branches are reddish and hairy at the ends. The leaves are scattered. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The leaf blade is oval or sword shaped and 6--17 cm long by 2--5 cm wide. Both surfaces of the leaves have dense reddish brown hairs. The fruit is a green berry which becomes reddish purple. It only has a very short fruit stalk. The fruit is fleshy, juicy and good tasting.

There are about 330 Pouteria species. They grow in the tropics. There are about 200 species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in forest in mid altitudes.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Indochina, SE Asia, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gian, Nhan, Tamchac

Synonyms

Pouteria annamensis (Pierre ex Dubard) Baehni; Pouteria hainanense (Merr.) Baehni; Sideroxylon annamense (Pierre) Lecomte; Sideroxylon hainanense Merrill;