Mangifera caesia

Mangifera caesia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Anacardiaceae
Genus:	Mangifera
Species:	M. caesia
Binomial name
Mangifera caesia Jack ex Wall.

Mangifera caesia is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Common names include Jack, Malaysian Mango, Binjai (Malay language), Wani (Balinese language), yaa-lam (Thai language), and bayuno (Filipino language). It belongs to the same genus as the mango and is widely cultivated in areas of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Kerala and the Philippines. The tree lives in lowlands or gentle slopes in sandy clay soils. It grows up to 30 m (100 ft) tall with a dense crown of round-shaped leaves. The flowers are purple or pink, 0.7 cm long with five sepals. The fruit is a large, edible, elliptical drupe 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long and 6–8 cm (2–3 in) wide. The skin is thin and brown with darker patches, and the flesh is yellow-white, mushy, and strongly odorous with an acid-sweet or sour taste.

The Binjai is believed to originate from the island of Borneo, but is commonly grown elsewhere for its edible fruit. The tree is one of the most common and valuable Mangifera species in western Malaysia, where it is cultivated extensively in orchards. It is also widely grown in Bali, Sumatra, and Borneo. The fruit can be eaten dipped in chili and dark soy sauce. The wood is used for light construction. Binjai is almost always propagated by seed. The tree requires rainfall that is distributed evenly throughout the year. It is a possible candidate for wider cultivation in the future.

References

• Kwan, TY. "Sightings: A Mysterious Tree Bears Fruit". Green Dot Internet Services. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. http://web.archive.org/web/20070928191116/http://www.can.com.sg/content/neocan/en/streetwise/unwind/sightings__a_mysterious.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 
• "IUCN Red List - Mangifera caesia". International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/31403/all. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 
• "Anacardiaceae". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.kew.org/herbarium/brunei/fams/53_01.htm#MANGIFERA. Retrieved 2008-01-23. ^{[dead link]}