Dracontomelon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, growing mostly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands.Blume, Carl L. von (1850) In: Museum Botanicum Lugduno-Batavum sive stirpium Exoticarum, Novarum vel Minus Cognitarum ex Vivis aut Siccis Brevis Expositio et Descriptio (Blume, ed.), 1 : 230-231. The fruit may be used in local cuisine, especially as a souring agent, including in Vietnam, where it is known as sấu.Phạm Hoàng Hộ (2003) Cây Cỏ Việt Nam: an Illustrated Flora of Vietnam vol. II publ. Nhà Xuẩt Bản Trẻ, HCMC, VN.
Species
Dracontomelon costatum Blume - Borneo, Sumatra Dracontomelon dao Merr. & Rolfe (many synonyms) - Southeast Asia to Solomon Islands Dracontomelon duperreanum Pierre (syn. D. sinense) - southern China and Vietnam Dracontomelon laoticum C.M.Evrard & Tardieu Dracontomelon lenticulatum WilkinsonThe Plant list (20 January 2018) - New Guinea Dracontomelon macrocarpum Li - China (Yunnan) Dracontomelon petelotii Tardieu - northern VietnamGBIF: Dracontomelon petelotii Dracontomelon schmidii Tardieu - Vietnam Dracontomelon vitiense Engl. - Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa (Upolu)
Reclassified species The following are known synonyms: Dracontomelon cuspidatum Blume: syn. of Dacryodes rostrata (Bl.) H. J. Lam D. laoticum Evrard & Tardieu: syn. of Protium serratum (Wall. ex Colebr.) Engl. D. pilosum Seem.: syn. of Didymocheton alliaceus (Miq.) Mabb.Dracontomelon pilosum Seem. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 14 February 2024. D. papuanum Lauterb.: syn. of Protium macgregorii (F.M.Bailey) Leenh. D. multijugum Radlk. (formerly C.DC.): syn. of Toona ciliata var. multijuga (Kurz) Panigrahi & S.C.Mishra
Culinary use The most commonly eaten species is Dracontomelon duperreanum, which produces an edible fruit that is eaten in Cambodia, Vietnam and China. In Vietnamese, the plant is called and is a common urban tree in Hanoi; the fruit is called . The fruit is used in Vietnamese cuisine both as a souring agent and a candied treat similar to the Japanese umeboshi. The treat is popular among youths. In Chinese, the fruit is called 仁面.
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