Pterospermum semisagittatum
Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.
Laosian nayur tree, Lao pterospermum tree
Wikimedia Commons - Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.)
Wikimedia Commons - Francisco Manuel Blanco (O.S.A.)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Bark - masticatory
The bark is chewed as a masticatory, traditionally used with betel leaf as a substitute for betel nut.
Where to Find It
A tropical plant.
Asia, Bangadesh, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 15-25 m tall. The bark is brown and slightly flaky. The leaves are alternate. The leaves have lobes at the base partly clasping the stalk. They are hairy underneath. There are teeth along the edge in the upper half. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. The fruit are capsules 6-8 cm long. It is woody and splits into 5 sections. There are many oval seeds.
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Medicinal Uses
The bark is used as a masticatory in traditional practice.
Other Uses
The bark fibres have been used for cordage. The reddish-grey wood is heavy, fairly hard, durable. It is used to make axe handles and is used as house columns in traditional buildings. The wood is used for fuel.
Production
The tree is fast growing.
Notes
The bark is chewed as a masticatory. Also put in the family Pentapetaceae.
Names & Synonyms
Longman la-lech, Mai-ham-hpan, Mukau, Nagye, Ngaba nahk, Nwa-labyin, Pohon bayur laosian, Top-la
References (6)
- Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 503
- Fl. ind. ed. 1832 3:160. 1832
- Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, 1996, Vietnam Forest Trees. Agriculture Publishing House p 696
- Pham-Hoang Ho, 1999, An Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. Nha Xuat Ban Tre. p 502
- Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 481
- Thai Forestry Bulletin 23:62-108, 1995
