Dracontomelon Blume

Trees. Leaves spiral, imparipinnate, petioled. Leaflets opposite, subopposite, or alternate, entire, often with hairy domatia. Inflorescences paniculate, axillary or terminal. Flowers bisexual. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, valvate but imbricate at the apical part, puberulous outside or on both surfaces, or glabrous. Stamens 10, those opposite the calyx lobes longer than those alternate with them; filaments subulate, glabrous; anthers dorsifixed. Disk intrastaminal, discoid or shortly cupular, hairy, glabrescent, or glabrous. Pistil composed of 5 carpels, 1-4 of them abortive; carpels free but connate at the basal and apical parts. Ovary 5-celled, hairy and glabrescent; styles 5, connate at the apical part; stigmas capitate, stigmatic face lateral. Drupe 5-celled, or seemingly 1-celled by abortion, each cell with a distinct operculum; endocarp woody, hard. Seed with testa free from the endocarp; embryo straight, cotyledons free, plano-convex.

In forests, usually at low altitudes.

Uses. Dracontomelon is sometimes planted in villages because of the fruit which has a small amount of a rather acid, juicy, edible pulp around a large endocarp (stone). The trees also provide very decorative timber.