Xantolis tomentosa

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 15 m tall. The trunk is fluted. The bark is reddish-brown. The trunk and branches are thorny. It has a white latex. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blade is 4-10 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They are white. The fruit is an oval berry. It is 2.5 cm long. There is one seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forest between 500-1,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The bark is used to make a fermented drink. The fruit are pickled and also used in curries. The young fruit are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Bark - drink, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Gomale, Hudigullu, Kabbinadamara, Kampale, Kanta bohul, Kanta, Kantaboro, Karimkara, Kumbul, Kumla, Mau-do, Mul makil, Palai, Thayet-cho

Synonyms

Pouteria tomentosa (Roxb.) Baehni; Sideroxylon tomentosum Roxb.; and several others