This species closely resembles Mangifera kemanga, but differs in the longer petiole and the yellowish or whitish-green and smooth fruit[].

Common Name: Binjai

General Information

Mangifera caesia is a large, deciduous tree, often attaining majestic proportions, with a dome-shaped crown and massive branches. It usually attains a height of around 30 metres tall, with specimens up to 45 metres being recorded. The straight bole can be free of branches for much of its height, up to 155cm in diameter and free of buttresses[, , ].
The tree is commonly cultivated in parts of southeast Asia and, whilst the wild form has acid fruits, a cultivar called 'Wani' with sweet, juicy, fibreless, tasty fruit is grown in Borneo and Bali[]. This form, which is mainly found in Bali but also in East Kalimantan, fetches a high price in local markets[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The white juice of the immature fruit is extremely irritant, both on the skin and when ingested[]. It has been used to injure enemies![].
The sap of the bark is poisonous and may cause serious skin and eye irritation[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

A mid-canopy tree, rather rare in forests, it is found more frequently in periodically inundated areas and marshes at elevations up to 500 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	40.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Restricted to the wet tropical lowlands, generally below elevations of 400 metres and rarely up to 800 metres[]. It requires a rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year[]. Succeeds in a monsoon climate according to another report[].
Withstands inundation well, it is commonly cultivated on periodically inundated riverbanks[].
Trees usually bloom profusely and old trees can produce thousands of fruits[]. The fruit ripens 3 months after anthesis[].
Mature trees require a lot of space, 12 - 16 metres each way is commonly employed[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. The juicy, sweetish-sour, yellowish-white fleshed binjai fruit can be eaten fresh when fully ripe[, ]. The cultivar 'Wani' is much liked this way, as the fruit is palatable, juicy and sweet, almost fibreless, the foetid rank smell being completely absent[]. It is excellent for making creamy juices[]. The green-white to pale brown fruit is 10 - 15cm long and 6 - 7cm wide, enclosing a single, large seed[, , ].
Binjai is often used to prepare a spice based on chillies (sambal)[]. In some areas the flesh of ripe fruit is pickled and preserved with salt in jars, to be able to make this sambal when there is no fresh fruit[].

Young leaves - raw or used as a condiment[].

The fresh or dried seeds are grated, mixed with spices and dried fish, then used as a side dish with rice[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is a source of 'machang' timber[]. We do not have a specific description for the wood of this speices, but a general description of machang timber is as follows:-
The heartwood is light brown or light grey brown, occasionally with chocolate or black streaky coreword; it is not clearly differentiated from the wide band of sapwood. The texture is moderately coarse to coarse and even; the grain interlocked and wavy. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; moderately hard; not durable under exposed conditions, being susceptible to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons somewhat rapidly with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It can be worked with ordinary tools, there is a slight difficulty resawing when green, but is easy when dry; planing is easy but the surface produced is moderately smooth with grain pick-up on the radial side; nailing and screwing is excellent; gluing is correct. The wood is suitable for light construction, turnery, flooring, interior panelling, boxes, crates, pallets and plywood manufacture[]. Corewood can be used for decorative veneer production[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
Presumably, grafting on seedling stock would be possible, in particular through inarching potted, decapitated rootstocks into twigs of mother trees[]. Grafting on Mangifera indica L. has been attempted without success, probably because this species is not closely related[]

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