Melodorum fruticosum
| Melodorum fruticosum | |
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| Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Thailand. | |
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| Species: | M. fruticosum
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| Binomial name | |
| Melodorum fruticosum (Lour.) Merr.
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Melodorum fruticosum, the white cheesewood (Thai: ลำดวน), is a plant of the Annonaceae family native to South-East Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket Province, Thailand.
Description
This plant has a cream-coloured flower with a single alternate leaf.[1] It gives out a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening. It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant and hematinic.
This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks. Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower in ancient Cambodian literature and folklore.[2]
In Thailand a traditional cookie, also called ลำดวน (lom duom), is made in the shape of the flower.
See also
References
External links
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