Melodorum fruticosum
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Thailand.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Annonaceae
Genus: Melodorum
Species:
M. fruticosum
Binomial name
Melodorum fruticosum

Melodorum fruticosum, the white cheesewood (Thai: ลำดวน), is a plant of the Annonaceae family native to Southeast Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket province, Thailand.

Description

This plant has a cream-coloured flower with a single alternate leaf.[1] It gives out a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening. It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant and hematinic.

This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks.[2]

Traditional Thai cookies in the shape of the flower lamduan

In Thailand a traditional cookie called kleeb lamduan (กลีบ ลำดวน) is made in the shape of the flower.

References

  1. "Melodorum fruticosum, White Cheesewood". TopTropicals.com - rare plants for home and garden.
  2. "Romduol - National Flower of Cambodia". Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.