Mimusops elengi

Mimusops elengi
Conservation status
Least Concern(IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Sapotaceae
Genus:	Mimusops
Species:	M. elengi
Binomial name
Mimusops elengi L.

The ripe fruit has many traditional uses.

Mimusops elengiis a medium-sized evergreen tree found in tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and northern Australia. English common names includeSpanish cherry,medlar,andbullet wood.Its timber is valuable, the fruit is edible, and it is used in traditional medicine. As the trees give thick shade and flowers emit fragrance, it is a prized collection of gardens.

Its flower is the provincial flower ofYala Province,Thailand,as well as the city flower ofAmpang Jaya,Selangor,Malaysia.

Tree description

Flowers inHyderabad, India

Pollen grains of Mimusops elengi

Flowers are made into garlands

Bark

Bullet wood is an evergreen tree reaching a height of about 16 m (52 ft). It flowers in April, and fruiting occurs between June and October. The leaves are glossy, dark green, oval-shaped, 5–14 cm (2.0–5.5 in) long, and 2.5–6 cm (0.98–2.36 in) wide. The flowers are cream, hairy, and scented. The fruits are fleshy, range in color between yellow and brown, and contain a large brown seed. The pulp has a yellow color and it is edible. The bark of the tree is thick and appears dark brownish black or grayish black in colour, with striations and a few cracks on the surface. The tree may reach up to a height of 9–18 m (30–59 ft) with about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in circumference.

Distribution

The plant is native to South and Southeast Asia, particularly the coastal areas of theIndian subcontinent,VietnamandMyanmar,as well asNorthern Australia.It was introduced inChinain the 20th century, and is now cultivated in itssouth,as well as inTaiwan.

Ayurvedic uses

The bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds ofBakulaare used in Ayurvedic medicine in which it is purported to beastringent,cooling,anthelmintic,tonic, andfebrifuge.It is mainly used for dental ailments such as bleeding gums,pyorrhea,dental caries,and loose teeth.

Other uses

• The flowers are sun dried and used to make floral infusions and as an addition to green tea in Thailand.
• The edible fruit is softly hairy becoming smooth, ovoid, bright red-orange when ripe.
• The wood is a luxurious wood that is extremely hard, strong and tough, and rich deep red in color. Theheartwoodis sharply defined from thesapwood.It works easily and takes a beautiful polish.Densityis 1008 kg per cubic meter.

Further reading

• Brock, J.,Top End Native Plants,1988.ISBN0-7316-0859-3