Common Name: Mangrove Trumpet Tree

General Information

Dolichandrone spathacea is an attractive, evergreen tree with intensely fragrant flowers, growing up to 20 metres tall with a bole up to 40cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, valed especially for its fragrant, showy flowers[].
Although Dolichandrone spathacea is widespread, it is uncommon in many parts of its range. It is threatened by the loss of mangrove habitat throughout its range, primarily due to extraction and coastal development. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Indian subcontinent through southeast Asia to Indonesia, Philippines and the Pacific Isles

Habitat

An understorey tree, usually in undisturbed lowland forest but also in secondary formations, growing in mangoves, along tidal streams, along rivers and in swamps, occasionaly also in the sandy soils of keranga forest; at elevations up to 100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in full sun and partial shade[]. Usually found on sandy to muddy soils in the wild, rarely on limestone, but in cultivation it tolerates a wide range of soils[]. Although its natural habitat is swamps, it can adapt to drier sites[]. Plants are tolerant of salt-laden winds[].
The showy and fragrant flowers are very short-lived, opening at dusk and falling off the tree at sunrise[].
The bruised leaves have an aromatic but disagreeable aroma[].
The seeds are covered by a corky coating, they float and are dispersed by seawater[].

Edible Uses

Young flowers - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Young fruits - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[, ].

Medicinal

The leaves are used in the treatment of thrush[].

The seeds, combined with ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Pavetta root (Pavetta indica) are administered in spasmodic affections.

Other Uses

A blackish, coarse fibre is obtained from the bark[, ].

The pale, white wood is durable, light in weight, soft and easily worked[, , ]. It is used for small household goods, toys, floats and wooden shoes[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -

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