Food Plants International - Plant Fact Sheets Barringtonia acutangula

Edible: Leaves, Flowers, Fruit

A small tree. It grows 4-15 m tall. The trunk can be 40-80 cm across. It can have several stems. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaves are broad and sword shaped. They taper to the base. They are bright green. The edges sometimes have small teeth. They are 4-14 cm long by 2-4.5 cm wide. The flowers are bright red. They are in heads 30 cm long. These hang downwards. The fruit are green and 4 angled. They are woody and 3.5 cm long. There is one seed and it has a groove.

A tropical plant. It grows in moist places along rivers. It needs light and humidity. It grows near lakes and can grow in brackish water. It suits humid shady places. It is damaged by drought and frost. It occasionally grows up to 400 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Common Names: Indian oak, Red Barringtonia, Barrenka, Chiec, Chik na, Chik num, Freshwater Mangrove, Hijal, Himbabalod, Hole kauva, Ingar, Ipil, Itchy Tree, Jiig, Kadapa, Kadon naam, Kandu almond, Kra don, Kyi, Kyi-ni, Lik vung, Loc vung, Mai chik, Neerpezhu, Pak kradon nam, Pangpanik, Phak kadon naam, Piwar, Poetat, Pooy-sai, Putat lembik, Putat nasi, Putat tayap, Putat, Raing toek, Reang toek, Stream Barringtonia, Ye-kyi

Synonyms: 

Barringtonia alba Kostel. invalid;
Barringtonia rubra Baill. ex Laness. [Illegitimate];
Barringtonia terrestris (Miers) Kunth;
Butonica acutangula Lam.;
Butonica terrestris Miers;
Careya coccinea (Lour.) A. Chev.;
Caryophyllus acutangula (L.) Stokes;
Eugenia acutangula L.;
Huttum acutangulum (L.) Britten;
Michelia acutangula (L.) Kuntze;
Stravadia alba Pers.;
Stravadia rubra Pers.;
Stravadium acutangulum (L.) Miers;
Stravadium acutangulum (L.) Sweet;
Stravadium rheedii Blume;
Tsjeria-samstravadi Rheede;
and others