Antidesma bunius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Phyllanthaceae
Genus: Antidesma
Species:
A. bunius
Binomial name
Antidesma bunius

Antidesma bunius is a species of fruit tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Its common Philippine name and other names include bignay,[1] bugnay or bignai, Chinese-laurel,[1] Queensland-cherry,[1] salamander-tree,[1] wild cherry,[1] and currant tree.[1]

Description

Ripe bignay fruit

It is a variable plant which may be short and shrubby or tall and erect, approaching 30 metres (98 feet) in height. It has large oval-shaped leathery evergreen leaves up to about 20 centimetres (8 inches) long and 7 cm (3 in) wide. They are attached to the twigs of the tree with short petioles, creating a dense canopy.

The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers growing on separate trees. The flowers have a strong, somewhat unpleasant scent. The staminate flowers are arranged in small bunches and the pistillate flowers grow on long racemes which will become the long strands of fruit. The fruits are spherical and just under 1 cm (1⁄2 in) wide, hanging singly or paired in long, heavy bunches. They are white when immature and gradually turn red, then black.

Each bunch of fruits ripens unevenly, so the fruits in a bunch are all different colors. The skin of the fruit has red juice, while the white pulp has colorless juice. The fruit contains a light-colored seed. The fruit has a sour taste similar to that of the cranberry when immature, and a tart but sweet taste when ripe.

There is an inverse correlation between the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide and bitterness in A. bunius.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Bignay, Philippines

It is native to Southeast Asia and northern Australia, found in rainforests and semi-evergreen tropical forests.[3] It is often grown as a backyard fruit tree in Java.

Toxicity

The roots of specimens growing in Africa are poisonous. Parts of the plant besides the fruit may be toxic.[3]

Uses

The tree is cultivated across the tropics.[3] The fruits are edible raw[3] and most often used for making wine and tea, in addition to jams and jellies.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Antidesma bunius". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Henkin, R. I.; Gillis, W. T. (10 February 1977). "Divergent taste responsiveness to fruit of the tree Antidesma bunius". Nature. 265 (5594): 536–537. doi:10.1038/265536a0. PMID 834304.
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants. United States Department of the Army. New York: Skyhorse Publishing. 2009. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-60239-692-0. OCLC 277203364.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)


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