Tarawau, Dragon plum
Dracontomelon vitiense

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It has buttresses. It grows 8-20 m high. The trunk can be 20-90 cm across. The crown is large and dense. The leaves are divided into leaflets along the stalk. There are 4-9 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are 8-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. The flowers are in groups. The flowers are white. The fruit are green or yellow. They are about 3.5 cm across. They have yellowish pulp.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Fiji it grows from sea level to about 300 m altitude. It grows in dry or open forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Fiji, Pacific, Rotuma, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or cooked in coconut milk.

The fruit are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Atapol, Faorau, Ghayambola, Hatapola, Honbol, Kassi, Katambolo, Katbol, Katpol, Lu, Mal, Mel, Nar-ah, Nakatamboi, Nakatambul, Na-Rak, Na-Rau, Ne-Rou, Netapol, Novil, Ratambola, Tarau, Te tarawau, Wera, Woro

Synonyms

Dracontomelon sylvestre sensu A. Gray; Dracontomelum sylvestre sensu Drake; Dracontomelum vitiense Engl. ex Guillaumin;