Crateva religiosa
Forst.f.
Sacred garlic pear
(c) Rujuta Vinod, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Rujuta Vinod
(c) சூழல் அறிவோம், some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
no rights reserved, uploaded by 葉子
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit
The fruit is edible, usually cooked. Tender leaves and buds are boiled and squeezed to reduce bitterness, then cooked as a vegetable or pickled. Flowers are pickled and eaten. Seeds are also edible.
Known Hazards
Where to Find It
A tropical plant. It is native to SE Asia and Australia. It prefers moist soils and an open sunny position. It is drought and frost tender. It can tolerate temporary flooding. Found in waste places near streams and in areas of shrubs, near the sea from northern Luzon to Masbate and Palawan and probably also in Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. In Nepal it grows to about 1500 m altitude. It needs a temperature above 15°C.
Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, East Timor, Fiji, FSM, Gambia, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Pohnpei, Polynesia, Samoa, SE Asia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Truk, Vietnam, West Africa, Yap,
How to Identify
An evergreen or deciduous tree. It grows up to 7-15 m tall and 45 cm across the trunk. The tree spreads to 2-4 m across. The stem is erect and the bark is smooth, with branches low down. The leaves have long petioles, 2-9 cm long. The leaves are divided into 3 leaflets growing from the same point. The leaflets are pointed at the base and have a slender point at the tip. The two halves of the leaflets are unequal in size. The leaflets are 5-27 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The leaves are light green. The flowers are white, then yellow, turning pale violet and they are large, up to 5-7 cm across. They are borne in large bunches 3-14 cm long. These are near the ends of branches. The fruit is rounded and about 6-15 cm long by 5-9 cm across. They are sausage shaped. The fruit is edible. There are many seeds, which are kidney shaped.
Nutrition Score: 45/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves raw | 76 | 293 | 70 | 5.9 | — | — | 8.4 | — |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh. Plants can be grown from cuttings or root suckers.
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Cuttings of half ripe wood. Suckers.
Medicinal Uses
The tender leaves and buds are boiled and squeezed, traditionally used to lessen bitterness before cooking.
Other Uses
The pulp of the fruit, mixed with mortar, has been used to make cement. The fruit pulp is used as a mordant in dyeing. The wood is yellowish-white, turning light brown when old. It is smooth and close-grained. It works easily, and is used in local villages to make drums and artefacts.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Crateva religiosa, the sacred garlic pear or temple plant, is a species of flowering tree. It is a member of the capers family. The tree is sometimes called the spider tree because the showy flowers bear long, spidery stamens. It is native to much of tropical Asia and several South Pacific islands. It is grown elsewhere for fruit, especially in parts of Africa. The garlic pear tree is a perennial that can grow up to 15 m (49 ft). The nectar-filled flowers are attractive to a multitude of insects and birds. A pierid butterfly, Hebomoia glaucippe, is a frequent visitor to this plant. The chemical compound lupeol can be extracted from the bark of C. religiosa.
Production
A slow growing plant.
Other Information
Leaves are sold in local markets in Nepal.
Notes
There are 6 Crateva species. The tree is planted near graves and religious sites.
Names & Synonyms
Abeech, Abiyuch, Apuch, Apus, Balai-lamok, Bannya, Barna, Barun, Bidasi, Bun, Dala, Dangla hantu, Garlic pear, Gudai, Ingigido, Jaranan, Kadoppsung, Kemantu hitam, Kum nam, Lunuwarana, Naiko, Sipligan, Siplekan, Temple Plant, Three-leaved caper, Ungudidi, Ungududu, Varuna
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