Characteristics
A medium sized tree which loses its leaves. It is smooth and up to 5 to 25 m high. The leaves are opposite and leathery. They are 35 cm long. They are divided into leaflets along the stalk. These are oblong and glossy. There are 7-9 leaflets are they are oval and 15 cm long. The flower clusters have few flowers and are short and at the end of stalks. The flowers are 15 cm long. The flowers are white or yellow on 2 or 3 cm long fleshy spikes. The flowers are trumpet shape. They come out at night. The seed envelope is as long as the leaves and slightly squashed. It is usually pointed and curved. There are many seeds and they are winged.
| Life form |
|
| Growth form |
tree
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
deciduous
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
-
|
| Mature height (meter) |
-
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
A tropical plant. It is native to tropical Asia and the Pacific. It grows in mangroves. They are found along the coast and in marshy places inland throughout the Philippines. It is tolerant to salt. It needs full sun. It needs fertile soil. It suits plant hardiness zones 10-11.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The young flowers and fruit are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are chewed as a substitute for betel pepper.
Cultivation
Plants are grown from fresh seed.
| Mode |
-
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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