Elaeocarpus prunifolius — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

The fruit are eaten raw, though they are sour.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. In northeastern India it grows up to 1,350 m above sea level.

Asia, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

An evergreen tree. It grows 10-18 m high. Older trees have slight buttresses. The bark is grey and thin. The leaves are 9-17 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. There are shallow teeth. There are 6-10 pairs of arching side veins. The stalks are 2-4 cm long. They are slightly swollen at both ends. The flowers are in clusters in the axils of leaves. They are 4-8 cm long. The fruit are 2 cm long and dark green. There are small cream dots. The fruit turn purple when ripe. The seeds are 1.5 cm long.

How to Grow

We have no specific information for this species, but members of this genus generally grow well in full sun to moderate shade, requiring a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.

Propagation: The seed of most species in this genus is covered by a hard, woody shell and can be very slow and erratic to germinate, sometimes taking 2 years or more. Filing down the shell, or cracking it (being very careful not to damage the seed) in order to allow the ingress of moisture can help to greatly speed up germination. Sow the seed in containers in light shade. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out, Cuttings of almost ripe shoots, in a sandy soil in a frame. The leaves should be left on the stem.. Many species strike readily from cuttings.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Elaeocarpus prunifolius is a species of flowering plant in the Elaeocarpaceae family. It is found in Bangladesh and India. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Production

In northeastern India plants flower and fruit September to November.

Notes

There are about 360 Elaeocarpus species mostly in the tropics.

Names & Synonyms

Banghkri, Bon jalpai, Cm la-prun, Dieng-ruin, Soh-khyllam-eit-blang, Sunganeren, Syngkiahaitblang

Elaeocarpus robertsonii GambleMonocera prunifolia Mull.Berol.

References (11)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 191
Gardner, S., et al, 2000, A Field Guide to Forest Trees of Northern Thailand, Kobfai Publishing Project. p 97
Jeeva, S., 2009, Horticultural potential of wild edible fruits used by the Khasi tribes of Meghalaya. Journal or Horticulture and Forestry Vol. 1(9) pp. 182-192
Majumdar, K and Datta, N., 2009, Traditional wild edible fruits for the forest dwellers of Tripura, India. Pleione 3(2) 167-178
Mozhui, R., et al, 2011, Wild edible fruits used by the tribals of Dimapur district of Nagaland, India. Pleione 5(1): 56 - 64.
Phawa, G. M., Dkhar, E. K. & Marbaniang, D., 2019, Indigenous Wild Edible Plants of Bataw Village, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya. International Journal of Arts, Science and Humanities. 7(2)
Sawian, J. T., et al, 2007, Wild edible plants of Meghalaya, North-east India. Natural Product Radiance Vol. 6(5): p 416
Singh, H.B., Arora R.K.,1978, Wild edible Plants of India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. p 59
Singh, V. B., et al, (Ed.) Horticulture for Sustainable Income and Environmental Protection. Vol. 1 p 216
Numer. List 2669. 1831
Wild edible plants of Himachal Pradesh