Tummy-wood
Careya sphaerica

Family: Lecythidaceae

What it is like

A tree 10-30 m high. The leaves are alternate. They are oblong with a wavy edge. They are 10-30 cm long by 6-15 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. Leaves fall before flowering. The flowers are in clusters with equal length stalks and at the end of branches. These are 6-10 cm long. There are 6-12 flowers together. Each flower is 4 cm long. Flowers are white. The fruit are round and fleshy. They are 4-6 cm long by 5 cm wide. The seeds are oblong.

There are about 5 Careya species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mixed deciduous forest. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Indochina, Laos, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The shoots and young leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The flowers are eaten raw. The fruit is eaten fresh.

They are sold in markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, fruit, bud

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from stem cuttings, layering or root suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Kradon, Pak-kradon, Patana oak

Synonyms

Possibly now Careya arborea;