Palaquium vitilevuense
Gilly ex van Royen
Mbau
Sapotaceae Edible: Gum
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Description
A slender tree. It grows 6-24 m tall. The trunk is straight and the crown is dense. The bark when cut releases a white latex. The leaves vary in size and hairiness. The leaves are 10-20 cm long by 4-10 cm wide. The flowers are small and in groups amongst the leaves. The fruit are small and oblong.
Edible Uses
The latex is used as chewing gum.
Traditional Uses
The latex is used as chewing gum.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows at about 120-300 m above sea level. It occurs on Viti Levu.
Where It Grows
Fiji, Pacific,
Other Uses
A copious white latex exudes from the bark. The wood is a useful timber.
Also Known As
Bau, Bauvudi
References (4)
- Blumea 10: 552, 606 1960.
- Elevitch Agroforestry Guide.
- GTZ 1996, A Guide to some Indigenous Fijian Trees. GTZ Suva. p 47
- Smith, A.C., 1981, Flora Vitiensis Nova: A New flora of Fiji, Hawai Botanical Gardens, USA Vol 2 p 776
