Edible

Barringtonia
uts and Leaves
Bruce French

Helping the hungry feed themselves

 Important Disclaimer

The information found in this book is from the Food Plants International database
developed and owned by Bruce French. Although great care has been taken to be as
accurate as possible, neither the compiler nor the organization makes any expressed
or implied representation as to the accuracy of the information contained in this
database and cannot be held legally responsible or accept liability for any errors or
omissions. Neither the compiler nor the organization can be held responsible for
claims arising from the mistaken identity of plants or their inappropriate use. The
compiler and the organization do not assume responsibility for any sickness, death
or harmful side effects resulting from eating or using any plant described in this
publication. Always be sure you have the correct plant and proper preparation by
consulting specialist scientists or local users of the plants. This database is a work in
progress and is regularly being amended.

Bruce French

Food Plants International 2014

www.foodplantsinternational.com

Creative Commons copyright

This means you can share it freely as is and with acknowledgement.

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Edible Barringtonia nuts and leaves
The Barringtonia group of trees grows in the Asia and Pacific region. There are 50 species of
which 15 are recorded as being used as food. Some species in some countries are important
nut crops.

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 Scientific name: Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn.

Common name: Indian oak, Red Barringtonia

Other names: Barrenka, Chik na, Chik num, Freshwater
Mangrove, Hijal, Himbabalod, Hole kauva, Ingar, Ipil, Itchy
Tree, Jiig, Kadapa, Kadon naam, Kandu almond, Lik vung,
Mai chik, Pangpanik, Phak kadon naam, Piwar, Poetat,
Pooy-sai, Putat lembik, Putat nasi, Putat tayap, Putat, Reang
toek, Stream Barringtonia
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia alba
Kostel. [Invalid]; Barringtonia rubra Baill. ex Laness.
[Illegitimate]; Caryophyllus acutangula (L.) Stokes; Eugenia acutangula L.; Huttum
acutangulum (L.) Britten; Michelia acutangula (L.) Kuntze; Stravadium acutangulum (L.)
Miers; Stravadium acutangulum (L.) Sweet

Description: A small tree. It grows 4-15 m tall. The trunk

can be 40-80 cm across. It can have several stems. It loses
its leaves during the year. The leaves are broad and sword
shaped. They taper to the base. They are bright green.
The edges sometimes have small teeth. They are 4-14 cm
long by 2-4.5 cm wide. The flowers are bright red. They are
in heads 30 cm long. These hang downwards. The fruit are
green and 4 angled. They are woody and 3.5 cm long.
There is one seed and it has a groove.

Countries where it grows: Afghanistan, Asia, Australia,

Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific,
Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia,
Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam
Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It grows in moist
places along rivers. It needs light and humidity. It grows
near lakes and can grow in brackish water. It suits humid
shady places. It is damaged by drought and frost. It
occasionally grows up to 400 m above sea level. It suits
hardiness zones 11-12.
How to grow it: It can be grown from fresh seed or cuttings.

Production: Trees flower and fruit throughout the year.

How it is used: CAUTION: The seeds are poisonous.

The young shoots are eaten in salads with fish sauce.
The young flowers are also eaten.
The leaves are high in antioxidants.

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 Scientific name: Barringtonia acutangula subsp. spicata Blume

Common name: Putat nasi

Other names: Jurai-jurai, Pokok gajah beranak
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia dentata R. Kunth; Barringtonia globosa
(Miers) R. Knuth; Barringtonia horsfieldii Miq.; Barringtonia spicata Blume; Barringtonia
winkleri R. Kunth; Michelia horsfieldii (Miq.) Kuntze; Michelia spicata (Blume) Kuntze;
Stravadium globosum Miers; Stravadium horsfieldii (Miq.) Miers; Stravadium lucidum
Miers; Stravadium spicatum (Blume) Blume

Description: A shrub or tree. It grows 3-18 m tall. The trunk is straight and branched near
the base. The smaller branches are thick and crooked and angular. The leaves are
alternate with short stalks. The leaves are oblong or sword shaped. They are 6-25 cm
long by 2-10 cm wide. They have teeth around the edge. The flowers are pink and
without stalks. They are in slender spikes.

Countries where it grows: Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. In Java it grows in the lowlands and to 400 m above
sea level. It is often near water.

How to grow it: Plants can be grown by seeds.

Production:

How it is used: The young leaves are eaten. They are often eaten with fish.

Scientific name: Barringtonia asiatica (L.) Kurz.

Common name: Fish Killer tree, Beach Barringtonia

Other names: Bitung, Botong, Butun, Fish Poison Tree, Futu, Hotu, Hutu, Keben, Motong-
botong, Pertun, Putat ayer, Putat gajah, Putat laut, Reang, Sea putat

Other scientific names or synonyms: Agasta asiatica (L.) Miers; Agasta indica Miers;
Agasta splendida Miers; Barringtonia butonica J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.; Barringtonia
senequei Jard.; Barringtonia speciosa J. R. & G Forst.; Barringtonia speciosa L. f.;
Butonica speciosa (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Lam.; Huttum speciosum (J. R. Forst. & G.
Forst.) Britten; Mammea asiatica L.; Michelia asiatica (L.) Kuntze; Mitraria commersonia J.
F. Gmel.

Description: A small tree. It is 5-9 m tall. It can grow up to

25 m. It spreads to 3-5 m wide. The trunk is short and erect
and branches occur from near the base. The leaves are 20
to 40 cm long and 10-15 cm wide and without individual leaf
stalks. They are shiny light green, and larger near the tip
than the base. The tip is rounded and somewhat pointed.
The flowers are large and pink and white. They are 3-5 cm

5
across. The fruit is sharply 4 and rarely 5-angled. The fruit
are 12 cm across, woody and broad at one end. They
contain one large seed.

Countries where it grows: Africa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia,

Comoros, East Africa, East Timor, Hawaii, India, Indochina,
Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mascarenes, Pacific,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, PNG, SE Asia, Singapore,
Tahiti, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, USA, Vanuatu

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. They occur along the

seashore throughout the islands of Asia and the Pacific.
Trees often lean out over the sea. It prefers well-composted,
moist, well-drained soil. It can grow easily in sandy soil. It
can tolerate salty soils. It suits a protected sunny position.
It is drought and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

How to grow it: Plants can be grown from cuttings or seed.

Seed need to be sown fresh. Seed germinate readily.
Young trees need shade. Plants can be grown by layering.

Production: Seed take up to 2 months to germinate but

seedlings grow very quickly.

How it is used: The young leaf shoots may be eaten fresh.

The young flowers are also eaten.
The young fruit have been recorded eaten as a vegetable.
Cooking destroys the saponins.

CAUTION This plant is used as a fish poison. They contain

saponins.
The seeds are oily and toxic. They have been recorded as
being cooked and eaten in Indonesia and the Andaman
Islands.

Scientific name: Barringtonia edulis (Miers) Seemann

Common name: Vutu kana, Cut nut

Other names:
Other scientific names or synonyms: Butonica edulis (Seem.) Miers; Huttum edule
(Seem.) Britten

Description: A small tree. It grows up to 15 m high. The

trunk is 30 to 40 cm across. The bark is smooth and greyish
brown. The leaves are glossy on both sides and are large.
They are 17 to 45 cm long by 10 to 20 cm across. They are
wedge shaped near the base, and wavy or with rounded
edges, near the tip. The midrib and veins are raised on both

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leaf surfaces. The leaf stalk is about 1 cm long and there are 15 to
20 pairs of veins. This nut tree has flowers with stalks from a single
unbranched stalk. These flower and nut stalks come from the end
of the branch and hang down. The flower stalk can be up to 50 cm
long and have about 40 flowers and nuts. The fruit can be 4 or 5
cm long and 2 cm across and when ripe the fruit skin colour is
green. The seed kernel inside the hard shell can be 3 cm by 1 cm
in size. This species is very similar to Barringtonia procera but this
one has leaves with leaf stalks, the flowers are on stalks, the fruit is
green when fresh and the fruit is more smooth and egg shaped.

Countries where it grows: Asia, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji,

Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, (The trees occurring in Papua New Guinea may
not be Barringtonia edulis. Other Barringtonia species are
important nuts in Papua New Guinea.)

onditions it needs: A tropical plant. This species mainly occurs in

Fiji. Other similar species occur in Solomon Islands, Papua New
Guinea and other Pacific countries. It occurs in forest, woodland
and grassland up to 400 m above sea level.

How to grow it: Plants are grown from

seed

Production: The flowering and fruiting

is mostly just before Christmas, from
September to December.

How it is used: The nut or seeds are eaten.

Scientific name: Barringtonia fusiformis King

Common name: Putat padi, Putat gajah

Other names:

Other scientific names or synonyms:

Description: A small tree. It grows 5-7 m tall. The stem is 8-13 cm across. The leaves
are thin and oblong. They do not have a leaf stalk. The flowers are a deep red. The fruit
are a rich red colour. They are 6 cm long by 4 cm wide.

Countries where it grows: Asia, Malaysia, SE Asia

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It grows in dense bamboo forest. It occurs between
160-230 m above sea level.

How to grow it:

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Production:

How it is used: The young leaves are eaten in chutneys.

Scientific name: Barringtonia macrocarpa Hassk.

Common name:

Other names: Songgom

Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia comosa Gagnep.; Barringtonia helferi
C. B. Clarke; Barringtonia insignis (Blume) Miq.; Barringtonia reinwardtii Miq.; Barringtonia
serrata Miq.; Megadendron macrocarpum (Hassk.) Miers; Michelia helferi (C. B. Clarke)
Kuntze; Michelia reinwardtii (Miq.) Kuntze; Michelia serrata (Miq.) Kuntze; Stravadium
insigne Blume; Stravadium reinwardtii (Miq.) Miers; Stravadium serratum (Miq.) Miers

Description: A small tree. It grows 3-7 m tall. The trunk is thin and straight. It is 5-15 cm
across. The leaves are alternate. The leaves are broadly sword shaped. They extend
down along the stem at the base. The flowers hang down along a long stalk amongst the
leaves. The flowers are greenish with red tips.

Countries where it grows: Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. In Java it grows from the lowlands to 600 m above
sea level. It grows in shady places and near water on non-saline soils.
How to grow it:

Production:

How it is used: The young slender sprouts or shoots are eaten.

Scientific name: Barringtonia macrostachya (Jack) Kurz

Common name: Red putat

Other names:
Other scientific names or synonyms: Baranda angatensis Llanos; Barringtonia acuminata
Korth; Barringtonia annamica Gagnep.; Barringtonia balabacensis Merr.; Barringtonia
cochinchinensis (Blume) Merr. ex Gagnep.; Barringtonia craibiana R. Knuth; Barringtonia
cylindrostachya Griff; Barringtonia fusicarpa Hu; Barringtonia isabelaensis R. Knuth;
Barringtonia moluccana R. Knuth; Barringtonia olivacea R. Knuth; Barringtonia pendens R.
Knuth; Barringtonia rosea Wall. ex R. Knuth [Invalid]; Barringtonia wallichiana R. Knuth;
Careya macrostachya Jack; Doxomma acuminatum (Korth.) Miers; Doxomma
cochinchinense (Blume) Miers; Doxomma cylindrostachyum (Griff.) Miers; Doxomma
macrostachyum (Jack) Miers; Michelia acuminata (Korth.) Kuntze; Michelia macrostachya
(Jack) Kuntze; Stravadium acuminatum (Korth.) Blume; Stravadium cochinchinense Blume

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Description: A broad tree. The leaves are sword shaped and have teeth along the edge.
They are pale on the upper side. They are 25 cm long. The flowering stalks are long.
The fruit are oblong. The seeds are 2.5 cm across.

Countries where it grows: Asia, Burma, China, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Conditions it needs: It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 700 m above sea level
or higher. It grows in swampy areas and along rivers.

How to grow it:

Production:

How it is used: The seeds are washed with cinders and chalk and are then edible. They
are starchy.

Scientific name: Barringtonia niedenzuana (K.Schum) R. Knuth

Common name: Pao

Other names:
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia araiorhachis Merr. & Perry;
Barringtonia bougainvilleana Knuth.; Barringtonia quadrigibbosa Laut.; Careya
niednenzuana K. Schum.; Cumbia niedenzuana (K. Schum.) Kuntze

Description: A small tree up to 15 m tall. Trunks are 5 to 25 cm across and twigs are 2 to
5 mm thick. The tree has a dense cone shaped group of leaves at the top. The bark is
cracked and irregular. The leaves are egg shaped and 12 to 26 cm long by 4 to 9 cm
wide. The leaves are like paper with a wavy or toothed edge. They are dark green on top
and paler underneath. A cluster of five leaves occurs on the end of a branch. The leaves
are pointed at the tip and wedge shaped at the base. The midrib and main veins are
prominent on both sides while the fine veins are only prominent under the leaf. The flower
stalks are 20 to 90 cm long, with about 30 flowers. The flower buds are pale green
sometimes with a purple tinge. The flower petals can vary from purple to red, pink or
yellow. The fruit is dark green. The fruit have 4 angles and are about 5 cm long by 1 cm
across. The kernel or seed is about 3 cm long by 5 mm wide.

Countries where it grows: Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Solomon Islands

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest especially on limestone slopes.

It can also grow under the rainforest and in low damp places near mangroves. It occurs
up to 700 m above sea level.
How to grow it: Plants are grown from seed. The seed need to be sown fresh.

Production: Flowering occurs from January to November and fruiting is mainly between
April and November.

How it is used: The nuts are eaten.

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 Scientific name: Barringtonia novae-hibernae Laut.

Common name: Pao nuts, Cut nut, Navele

Other names:
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia brosimus Merr.
& Perry; Barringtonia excelsa Guillaumin; Barringtonia oblongifolia
R. Knuth

Description: The tree. It grows up to 6 or 8 metres tall. The trunk

is often only 10-15 cm across and near the top the tree has a few
short thick branches. The leaves are large and shiny. The leaves
are crowded towards the end of branches. A leaf can be 50-60 cm
long and 20-24 cm across. Near the tip of the leaf the edge is wavy
and often slightly toothed, with the tip bent backwards. The veins of
the leaf show up clearly on both sides of the leaf. The leaf stalk is only short, about 1 cm
long. A long hanging yellow flower is produced from the branches. It can be 80 cm long
and is densely covered with flowers. There can be up to 120 flowers along a stalk. The
flowers do not have a scent. Along this the fruits form, giving a long hanging stalk of quite
large nuts. The fruit are oval shaped and about 6-8 cm long by 3-4 cm across. The seed
or nut inside the fruit has lines running along its surface. This edible part is about 3 cm
long by 1-2 cm across and white coloured. The seed is flattened particularly on one side.
Pao nut trees tend to flower and produce nuts throughout the year. There are some
different kinds. The size and shape of the nuts can vary slightly. Also some are white
inside and some are red. The most obvious difference is the colour of the outside of the
fruit. Some kinds are green or slightly blue whereas other kinds are a dark reddish black.
The nuts have a fairly hard shell and are split open with a knife. The white part in the
centre is eaten raw. It also has a fairly hard texture.

Countries where it grows: Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG,

Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. Trees grow in tropical coastal
areas and up to about 600 m altitude. They occur in primary
rainforest on rich alluvial soil. They grow naturally and are also
planted. In Papua New Guinea it grows in the Huon Peninsula,
Manus, New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville.
How to grow it: Pao nut trees are mostly grown from seed. Several
different races or types of pao nut have been selected by villagers
and these trees seem to produce fruit that is similar to the seed that
was planted. Trees can be grown from stem cuttings. Trees grown
from cuttings have shorter trunks and branch closer to the ground.
Production: If trees are planted in suitable sites and well looked after, they can produce
fruit in a year or two. As pao nuts often do well and are most common on low off shore
islands and coral waterfront villages, it may be particularly suited to coral and alkaline
soils. This needs to be further studied. Flowering is not seasonal. Well-grown trees can
produce after one year.

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How it is used: The kernels inside the nuts are eaten raw or roasted.
Status: A common and popular nut in some coastal areas of Papua New Guinea.

Scientific name: Barringtonia procera (Miers) R Knuth

Common name: Pao nuts, Cut nut

Other names: Aikenu, Alingasa, Fala, Falanganoa,Fara, Hala, Hara, Katnat, Kenu, Kino,
Kinu, Manavasa, Navele, Nofe, Nuwa, Nyia, Oneve, Tamalivi, Tinge, Tinghe, Tuhala fara,
Vele
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia guppyana Kunth.; Barringtonia
magnifica Lauterb.; Barringtonia schuchardtiana K. Schum.; Butonica procera Miers

Description: A small tree up to 15 m tall. The trunk is 8 cm

across and the twigs are about 1 to 1.5 cm across. The leaves
are smooth and hairless and can be 30 to 50 cm long by 8 to 20
cm wide. They are oblong and very shiny. They have a tapering
tip that curves backwards and at the base are wedge shaped.
The flower stalk is at the end of a branch, is 30 to 80 cm long and
hangs down. There can be up to 120 flowers. The fruit are 8
sided and about 6-8 cm long by 3-5 cm across. The seed kernel
inside the hard shell inside the fruit is about 3 cm by 1.5-2 cm
cross. It is slightly flattened in one direction. This nut tree has
short flower stalks (shorter than Barringtonia edulis) and the skin
colour of the ripe fruit is purple. The leaves also are almost
without stalks.
This species differs from Barringtonia novae-hibernae.

Countries where it grows: Australia, Fiji, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu
Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It grows in secondary
rainforest at low altitude. It is also planted in villages. It can
grow in light or heavy soils but they must be well drained. It
can grow in coastal coral soils. It can tolerate salty and
infertile soils. It can grow in light shade. It grows from sea
level to 600 m altitude. It grows in areas with a rainfall
between 1500-4300 mm per year. It is normally in areas
with a uniform rainfall. It suits areas with a temperature
between 26° and 28°C.

How to grow it: Plants are normally grown by seed. The

mature fruit is planted whole. Seed should be planted fresh.
Plants can be grown by air-layering or stem cuttings. Seed
do not have dormancy and germinate in 2-3 months.
Seedlings can be transplanted after 2-3 months and
preferably during a wet season.

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Production: It has a moderate growth rate. Trees flower and fruit throughout the year.
The yield of nuts is about 10-50 kg per year for each tree. Trees live for 80-90 years.

How it is used: The nuts are eaten. They are baked or roasted.

Scientific name: Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Sprengel

Common name: Fish Poison Tree

Other names: Cassowary pine, Freshwater mangrove, Ijjal, Jik, Mango Pine, Massinhava,
Mtoko, Mutovatova, Paopao, Poeierkwasboom, Powder-puff tree, Putat darat, Putat kamp,
Putat kedul, Rfungue, Samudraphala
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia apiculata (Miers) R. Knuth [Illegitimate];
Barringtonia caffra (Miers) E. Mey. ex R. Knuth; Barringtonia caffra E. Mey.; Barringtonia
celebesensis R. Knuth; Barringtonia ceramensis R. Knuth; Barringtonia ceylanica (Miers)
Gardner ex C. B. Clarke; Barringtonia elongata Korth.; Barringtonia excelsa A. Gray;
Barringtonia inclyta Miers Ex B. D. Jacks. [Invalid]; Barringtonia lageniformis Merr. & L. M.
Perry; Barringtonia longiracemosa C. T. White; Barringtonia obtusangula R. Knuth;
Barringtonia pallida Koord. & Valeton; Barringtonia racemosa Oliv.; Barringtonia racemosa
var. elongata Blume; Barringtonia racemosa var. minor Blume; Barringtonia racemosa var.
procera Blume; Barringtonia racemosa var. subcuneata Miq.; Barringtonia rosaria Oken;
Barringtonia rosata (Sonn.) R. Knuth; Barringtonia rumphiana (Miers) R. Knuth;
Barringtonia salomonensis Rech.; Barringtonia stravadium Blanco; Barringtonia terrestris
(Miers) R. Knuth; Barringtonia timorensis Blume; Butonica alba (Pers.) Miers [Illegitimate];
Butonica apiculata Miers; Butonica caffra Miers; Butonica ceylanica Miers; Butonica inclyta
Miers; Butonica racemosa (L.) Juss.; Butonica rosata (Sonn.) Miers; Butonica rumphiana
Miers; Butonica terrestris Miers; Caryophyllus racemosus (L.) Stokes; Eugenia racemosa
L.; Huttum racemosum (L.) Britten; Megadendron ambiguum Miers; Megadendron
pallidum Miers; Menichea rosata Sonn.; Michelia apiculata (Miers) Kuntze; Michelia
ceylanica (Miers) Kuntze; Michelia racemosa (L.) Kuntze; Michelia rosata (Sonn.) Kuntze;
Michelia timorensis (Blume) Kuntze; Stravadium album Pers. [Illegitimate]; Stravadium
obtusangulum Blume; Stravadium racemosum (L.) Sweet; Stravadium rubrum DC.
[Illegitimate]

Description: A small evergreen tree or shrub reaching a

height of 10-16 m. It spreads to 5 m across. The stem is
erect and branching. The tree has a rounded crown. The
leaves are crowded at the ends of the branches. They are
dark green and 25 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. Leaves can be
twice this size. They are pointed at both ends and with

12
toothed edges. The branches are marked with leaf scars. The flowers are white or pink
and about 2 cm across. They occur in hanging stalks with individual flowers along the
stalk. These stalks can be 25 cm long. The fruit hang along these stalks. The fruit is
oblong to oval and somewhat 4 angled. Fruit can be 8 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. They
are oval and irregular. They are green or purple. They contain only one seed.

Countries where it grows: Africa, Asia, Australia,

Bangladesh, Burma, Comoros, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji,
Guam, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos,
Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pacific,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, PNG, Samoa, SE Asia,
Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South
Africa, Southern Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-
Leste, Vanuatu

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It prefers well-drained, moist, humus rich soil. It can
grow in a sheltered, partly shaded position. It is drought tender and very frost tender.
Found throughout the Philippines in areas of shrub near the seashore and open lowlands
up to 320 m altitude. It grows in coastal swamps and along stream banks. It can resist
strong sea breezes. It is salt tolerant. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones
10-12.

How to grow it: Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown fresh. It can be
grown from cuttings.

Production: Trees grow easily and rapidly.

How it is used: The seeds and young leaves are eaten. The seeds are pounded and
starch extracted.
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are first soaked in lime water.
Caution: The fruit are used to poison wild pigs.

Scientific name: Barringtonia scortechinii King

Common name: Putat gajah, Putat tuba, Putat hutan

Other names: Langsat burung, Tempalang, Terakot
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia scortechinii var. globosa Craib

Description: A spreading tree. It grows 7-20 m tall. It can be up to 40 m tall. The trunk
can be 3-40 cm across. It can have buttresses 2 m high. The bark is scaly and with fine
cracks along it. It is brown or red and peels off in small flakes. The leaves are slightly
rough. They are glossy bright green. The leaf stalk is 5 cm long. The leaf blade is oval to
oblong and 8-21 cm long by 5-8 cm wide. The flowers are on a long stalk that hangs
down. It can be 70 cm long. There can be 65 flowers. They are like tubes with 3-4 lobes.
They are greenish-white or pinkish-red. The fruit is oval and is a one seeded berry. It is
10-12 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It has 8 ridges. It is green with a reddish tinge. The young
fruit are 4 sided with distinct wings. The seed is oval and 5-6 cm long by 2 cm wide. They
are yellow-white.

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Countries where it grows: Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia,
Thailand

Conditions it needs: A tropical plant. It grows in the forest at low altitudes. It can grow up
to 1400 m altitude. It grows in swampy forests and near streams.

How to grow it:

Production: It flowers and fruits year round.

How it is used: The fruit are used to flavour food.

Scientific name: Barringtonia seaturae H. B. Guppy

Common name:

Other names:
Other scientific names or synonyms: Barringtonia petiolata A. S. Sm.

Description: A large tree. It grows 20 m tall. The leaf stalks are thin. The leaves are oval
and taper at both ends. The flowers are white. The fruit occur in bunches.

Countries where it grows: Fiji, Pacific

Conditions it needs: It is a tropical plant. It grows in dense, lowland wet forest. It occurs
between 50-200 m above sea level.

How to grow it:

Production: It grows from seed.

How it is used: The nut is eaten.

14
At least 2 other edible plant species have previously been named as Barringtonias. These
include Chydenanthus excelsus and Planchonia careya. There are 64 species in the family
Lecythidaceae that have edible parts. These include Brazil nut and Monkey pot and others.

The botanical family Lecythidaceae now includes the Barringtoniaceae.

15