Urceola lucida

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

An evergreen climbing shrub. The leaves are papery and narrowly oval. They are 10-14 cm long. The flowers are in panicles in the axils of leaves and at the ends of branches. The fruit are curved follicles.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests up to 900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Singapore

How it is used for food

The fruit is edible. It is used as a substitute for tamarind.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Kyet-paung

Synonyms

Chavannesia esculenta A. DC.; Urceola esculenta (A. DC.) Benth. ex Kurz; and others