BINJAI TREE (Mangifera Caesia)
The Binjai tree is believed to have originated from the islands of Borneo & Sumatra. It is now widely cultivated in the South East Asia region. It grows in lowland primary or swamp forests, and on intermittently inundated riverbanks up to 450 meters in altitude. It is rarely growing wild in Singapore.
A lofty tree with a straight massive trunk and a dense crown of round shaped leaves, it can reach a height of more than 30 meters. In fact one of these magnificent specimen located in the Istana had been designated as a Heritage tree. The Binjai belongs to the Mango family of large un-buttressed trees with white latex found in all parts of the tree. There are about 35 species in the South East Asia region alone, of which the Indian mango is the most well known, having been cultivated since the ancient times.
A deciduous tree, the Binjai has large upward pointing leaves arranged in rosettes at the ends of massive twigs. It also has largely oblique ascending branches. The white latex of immature fruits is poisonous and in the past, had been used as poison by natives. The flowers are small, in large pink and hairy terminal panicles of up to 0.4 meters long. The tree flowers often from April to June, where the entire crown is covered in a mass of tiny purple or pink flowers held together in erect inflorescences. The fruit is generally oblong in shape, large and with scurfy brown skin. When matured, the fruit weights anywhere between 0.5 to 1 kilogram. The flesh is white, juicy and smooth and almost devoid of fiber, but it is often sour and has a strong foetid smell. The Binjai can be consumed as a 'sambal' (savory chilly-spice mix), rojak (a fruit and vegetable salad dish), a tamarind substitute or even as a home made creamy juices. It can also be eaten dipped in salt and chilly or dark soya sauce. The young leaves are used to prepare "lalab" (a leafy vegetable dish). The wood from the tree is usually used only for light construction.
Do you know... in Singapore, the swanky areas around Binjai Road in the past used to where Binjai fruit plantations are located.
A lofty tree with a straight massive trunk and a dense crown of round shaped leaves, it can reach a height of more than 30 meters. In fact one of these magnificent specimen located in the Istana had been designated as a Heritage tree. The Binjai belongs to the Mango family of large un-buttressed trees with white latex found in all parts of the tree. There are about 35 species in the South East Asia region alone, of which the Indian mango is the most well known, having been cultivated since the ancient times.
A deciduous tree, the Binjai has large upward pointing leaves arranged in rosettes at the ends of massive twigs. It also has largely oblique ascending branches. The white latex of immature fruits is poisonous and in the past, had been used as poison by natives. The flowers are small, in large pink and hairy terminal panicles of up to 0.4 meters long. The tree flowers often from April to June, where the entire crown is covered in a mass of tiny purple or pink flowers held together in erect inflorescences. The fruit is generally oblong in shape, large and with scurfy brown skin. When matured, the fruit weights anywhere between 0.5 to 1 kilogram. The flesh is white, juicy and smooth and almost devoid of fiber, but it is often sour and has a strong foetid smell. The Binjai can be consumed as a 'sambal' (savory chilly-spice mix), rojak (a fruit and vegetable salad dish), a tamarind substitute or even as a home made creamy juices. It can also be eaten dipped in salt and chilly or dark soya sauce. The young leaves are used to prepare "lalab" (a leafy vegetable dish). The wood from the tree is usually used only for light construction.
Do you know... in Singapore, the swanky areas around Binjai Road in the past used to where Binjai fruit plantations are located.