Velvet tamarind
Dialium cochinchinense
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tree 15-25 m tall. The leaves are compound. The leaf is 5-10 cm long and there are 5-9 leaflets. These are alternate and oval. They are 4-7 cm long by 1.5-4.5 cm wide. The flower panicles are on the ends of branches and have soft hairs. The flower arrangements are 10-30 cm long. The flowers are small and do not have petals. The fruit is a pod. It is velvety and 1.5 cm long by 8-9 mm wide. There is one seed inside. It is long an oval with furrows along it. The seed is 9 mm long by 6 mm wide. The ripe fruit is edible.
There are about 30-40 Dialium species. They grow in tropical SE Asia. They probably all have edible fruit. Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in both dense and clear forests. It grows between sea level and 300 m above sea level. It can grow up to 800 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are edible. The pulp around the seeds is eaten raw or cooked and has a sweet-sour flavour. The mature fruit are boiled and eaten.
It is sold in markets.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
It is grow from seed.
The fruit develop during the rainy season. In NE Thailand fruit are available August to November.
Its other names
Local names
Bak keng, Gal siyambala, Kaa yee, Kallu pullium, Kanji, Keranji, Kheng, Khleng, Khlong, Krallanh, Kro lanh, La-met, Lralanh, Mai kheng, Naang dam, Pohon asam keranji, Xai met, Xay, Xay long, Xoay, Yee