Edible: Seeds, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit
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.
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.
Common Names: Sacred garlic pear, 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
Synonyms:
Crateva brownii Korth. ex Miq.;
Crateva hansemannii K. Schum.;
Crateva macrocarpa Kurz;
Crateva magna (Lour.) DC.;
Crateva membranifolia Miq.;
Crateva religiosa var. vurnula (Buch.-Ham.) Hook.f. & Thomson;
Crateva speciosa Volkens;