Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Maniltoa polyandra (Roxb.) Harms (FABACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019

Description

Small tree to 10 m tall with spreading rounded crown, thick foliage. Leaves even-pinnate, 2-3 pairs, rachis 5 cm long, distinctly asymmetric at base. Flowers creamy-white with slightly pinkish tinge when young, clustered on dense raceme. Fruits c. 6 cm long, obliquely oval or ovoid, slightly flattened, thick-skinned, smooth or shallowly wrinkled, covered with orange-brown scales.


Ecology

Understorey tree of lowland evergreen forest on limestone.

Distribution

India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, NW Peninsular Malaysia. Rather rare. Can be confused with Cynometra malaccensis, which has smaller leaflets and 10 stamens instead of c. 50.