Mesua ferrea L.

An evergreen tree. It grows 18-30 m tall. It spreads 6 m wide. It often has buttresses. The bark is grey but turns brown and peels off in white flakes. The leaves are simple and deep green. They are sword shaped and 15 cm long. They are leathery. The leaves have a waxy coating underneath. New leaves are red. The flowers are white and have a scent. They have 4 petals and many yellow stamen. The fruit is fleshy with a stone inside. The fruit are 5 cm across. They have a woody rind. The stigma remains at the tip and the calyxes at the base. The fruit have 4 seeds.

A tropical plant. It is native to Asia. It grows between 500-600 m altitude in China. In India it grows from 60-1200 m altitude. It grows in evergreen humid forest. It can grow in bright shade or full sun. It does best in rich, slightly acid soil. In XTBG Yunnan. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

The young leaves can be eaten raw. The oily seeds need to be well cooked and then are eaten. The fruit is used as an addition to some dishes.

It can be grown from fresh seed or cuttings using mist. Half hardened cuttings should be used. Fresh seed germinate in about 10-14 days. Seed are best to be soaked before sowing. Seedlings can be transplanted when 2-3 years old.