Eden

Penang Botanic Gardens Plant Collection

Hernandia nymphaeifolia (J.Presl) Kubitzki (HERNANDIACEAE)

Posted at — Nov 13, 2019
Sea-Hearse, Buah Karas Laut

Description

Evergreen shrub or tree to 18 m tall with irregular crown. Leaves 10-30 cm long, ovate to heart-shaped. Flowers pale green to yellowish white in branched clusters, unisexual on the same tree. Fruits c. 3.5 cm across, spherical, pale green to white or pink.

Ecology

Scattered along sandy coasts.

Distribution

Widespread along coasted areas from E Africa to Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Christmas Is., Andaman & Nicobar, through SE Asia, to Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.

Uses

Timber moderately durable, occasionally planted as ornamental.