Barringtonia edulis
{{Short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Starr-130312-2391-Barringtonia edulis-habit-Pali o Waipio Huelo-Maui (24576596434).jpg
|genus = Barringtonia
|species = edulis
|authority = Seem., 1866
|synonyms = *Butonica edulis (Seem.) Miers
- Huttum edule (Seem.) Britten
}}
Barringtonia edulis is a species of tree with edible fruits from the southwestern Pacific region, being found on Fiji and Vanuatu. Common names include cut nut, pao nut, boxfruit tree, heart tree, and yum-yum tree. It was first described in 1866 by Berthold Carl Seeman.{{APNI2|id=109739|access-date=2025-01-21|name=Barringtonia edulis}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2919439 |author=Seemann, B.C. |date=1866|journal=Flora Vitiensis| title=Barringtonia |volume=1|pages= 82}}
In Fiji, it is known as vutu (term also used for Barringtonia asiatica{{cite web|url=https://acd.clld.org/cognatesets/25799#2/-9.5/143.2|title=*butun: a shore tree, Barringtonia spp.|last1=Blust|first1=Robert|last2=Trussel|first2=Stephen|website=Austronesian Comparative Dictionary|date=2010|publisher=Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology|access-date=3 January 2023}}), vutukala, kutuvala and vana.{{cite book |last1=Keppel |first1=Gunnar |title=Trees of Fiji: A Guide to 100 Rainforest Trees |last2=Ghazanfar |first2=Shahina A. |author-link2=Shahina A. Ghazanfar |date=2011 |publisher=Secretariat of the Pacific Community & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit |edition=third, revised |pages=182–3}}
Description
Barringtonia edulis is a little-branched evergreen tree growing to a height of about {{convert|18|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}}. The trunk is up to {{convert|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} in diameter and has smooth, greyish-brown bark. The large, glossy green leaves grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. They have short petioles and are up to {{convert|45|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|18|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} broad. The leaf blades are simple, oblong-elliptical and entire, with slightly undulating margins, prominent veins and acute apexes.{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/barringtonia-edulis/?lang=en |title=Barringtonia edulis |encyclopedia=Monaco Nature Encyclopedia |accessdate=11 November 2020 }}
The inflorescence is a terminal, dangling raceme up to {{convert|80|cm|in|-1|abbr=on}} long. The central rachis bears a spiral arrangement of small, closely-packed tubular flowers with globose, reddish-brown calyces tipped by two to four red lobes, four squarish white petals, a projecting boss of stamens and a single, long style. The fruits are oblong berries with persistent calyces, up to {{convert|10|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long, with densely matted short hairs, greyish-green, becoming reddish or purplish as they ripen.
Distribution and habitat
Barringtonia edulis is endemic to Fiji and Vanuatu. It grows in humid forests near the coast, at altitudes below {{convert|400|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}. It also occurs beside roads and footpaths and near habitations, and is cultivated in gardens for its attractive glossy foliage and edible fruits.
Ecology
The flowers of Barringtonia edulis are pollinated by moths and bats. The tree is host to several species of fruit fly including the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), the Pacific fruit fly (Bactrocera xanthodes),{{cite web |url=https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/8472 |title=Barringtonia edulis |work=Invasive Species Compendium |publisher=CABI |accessdate=11 November 2020 }} and the Fijian fruit fly (Bactrocera passiflorae).{{cite web |url=https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/8731 |title=Bactrocera passiflorae (Fijian fruit fly) |work=Invasive Species Compendium |publisher=CABI |accessdate=11 November 2020 }}
Uses
The fruits are eaten, raw or cooked, but are said to be insipid. The seeds are also edible, the flavour resembling peanuts. The bark is used in traditional medicine, to treat stomach problems and gonorrhoea, and to induce an abortion. The wood is light and makes fast-burning firewood. The timber is used for light construction, casing and for making canoe paddles.{{cite web |url=http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Barringtonia+edulis |author=Fern, Ken |title=Barringtonia edulis |work=Tropical Plants Database |accessdate=12 November 2020 }}
Images
Barringtonia edulis flowers Beqa Fiji 1.jpg
Barringtonia edulis 2.jpg
Barringtonia edulis.jpg