Common Name:

General Information

Dillenia pentagyna is a deciduous tree growing up to 25 metres tall. The bole is usually rather crooked, it can be free of branches for up to 12 metres and up to 100cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is gathered from the wild for a wide range of local uses, including food, timber and fibre.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam.

Habitat

Dense primary forests and in teak forests; also found on fire-savannahs; on periodically often very dry localities; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[]. Open places in foothills, especially in Shorea robusta woodland; at elevations to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	15.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 42°c, but can tolerate 7 - 47°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 750 - 5,000mm, growing mainly in areas with a distinct dry season[, ].
Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[]. Succeeds on a wide range of soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.1[].
Plants are fairly tolerant of fires[].

Edible Uses

Flower buds - raw, cooked or pickled[, ]. A pleasant, acidic taste[, ].

Fruit - raw[, ]. The immature fruits are also eaten, either raw, cooked or pickled[, ]. A pleasant, acidic taste[, ].

Medicinal

A paste of the leaves is applied as a poultice to treat scorpion bites[].

According to Ayurveda, the plant pacifies vitiated vata, kapha. It is used to treat anal fistula, wounds, diabetes, diabetic carbuncle, neuritis, pleurisy, pneumonia, and burning sensation[].

Other Uses

The old leaves contain an abundance of silica and are used as a sand paper[].

The bark contains about 6% tannins[].

A fibre obtained from the inner bark is used for cordage[].

The leaves are used as a mulch[].

The wood is used for planking, house posts and furniture[]. The wood, though of rather good quality, is rarely used because of its crookedness[].
A rather good quality charcoal is made from the wood[].

Propagation

Seed -

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