BUTTER TREE

Madhuca longifolia

Reference No :

0000004

Scientific Name :

Madhuca longifolia

Sinhala Name :

මී (MEE)

Tamil Name :

இலுப்பை மரம் (ILUPPAI MARAM)

Other Common Names :

Honey Tree Indian Butter Tree

Synonyms :

Plant Family :

Sapotaceae

Plant Group :

Angiosperms (Enclosed Seed)

Plant Types :

Medium Tree
Large Trees

Crown Architecture :

Spreading Canopy
Oval Canopy
Round Canopy
Upright Narrow Canopy

Plant Categories :

Agricultural plants;   Aquatic Ecosystem Plants;   Bird Attractive Plants;   Common Landscaping Plants;   Cooking Plants;   Courtyard Plants;   Dark Green Plants;   Dry Zone Plants;   Edible Plants;   Forest Trees;   Fruiting Plants;   Herbal Plants;   Intermediate Zone Plants;   Large Trees;   Low Country;   Low Maintenance Plants;   Medium Size Trees;   Native plants;   Ornamental Plants;   Roadside Plants;   Seasonal Plant;   Shady Plants;   Fast Growing Plants;   Sun Loving Plants;   Trees;   Wetland Plants;   Wild Plants

Native Region(s) :

Indian Subcontinent

Plant Distribution(s) :

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar.

Habitat :

Wet, marshy areas and on riverbanks and Banks of streams 

Elevation :

Above sea level up to 1,200 m

Average Height :

14 - 16m

Maximum Height :

16m

Average Width :

5m

Maximum Width :

15m

Root System(s) :

Tap Root

Propogation(s) :

By Seeds

Medicinal Use :

Yes

Medicinal Value :

Bark, Seed, and Heartwood are used as treatments for Urticaria, Fracture, Snake-bite poisoning, Rheumatism, Skin diseases,and Glandular swelling in the neck & throat in Sinhala Ayurveda

Special Features :

Flower, Fruit, Leaves, Oil are edible The fragrant fleshy flowers can be eaten raw or cooked Nectar is used as a sweetener and a source of sugar Both the ripe and the unripe fruit can be eaten Can be dried for later use Use for carbon farming The fat (solid at ambient temperature) is used for the care of the skin, to manufacture soap or detergents, and as a vegetable butter.

Foliage

Leaf / Habit :

Deciduos

Leaf Shape :

Obtuse shape

Arrangements :

Simple

Leaf Arrangement :

Alternate leaf arrangement

Leaves :

Leaf: Evergreen/ Semi Evergreen 
Leaves: 12-23 cm long, 4-12 cm broad; petiole short; pinkish or reddish-brown in color 

Flowering

Is Flowering :

Yes

Blossoms :

Fleshy, in dense fascicles near the end of branches; pedicles slender, drooping near the end of branches; live for only one night and then fall to the ground 

Blooming Season :

March;   April;   May

Fruiting

Bears Fruits :

Yes

Fruit :

Ovate, 2.5-5 cm long, green, yellowish when ripened 

Fruiting Season :

May;   June;   July

Seeds :

Seeds 1-4 crustaceous 

Maintenance

Level :

Medium

Soil Types :

Sandy Soil;   Clay Soil;   Loam Soil;   Acidic (pH 5.5>) to Moderately Alkaline (pH 7.9 - 8.4);   Well Drained Soil

Water :

Medium/Moderate

Sunlight :

Full

Edibility

Legal Status

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