Edible sweet flowers that give the tree its name
The tree with new leaves is easily identified by the riot of colours seen – pink, peach, gold, yellow, bronze or olive green. The dense foliage of lance-shaped leaves and a long crown identifies a tree without new leaves. Illustration (top) by P.A. Miththapala; Pic (left above) by Harith Gunawardana and (right) by Ranjit Galappatti
This large tree is common in the dry and intermediate zone but less common in the wet zone, although it is planted along roadsides in urban areas, such as Colombo. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Like the country almond, the honey tree also sheds its leaves during the dry season. It has a long crown compared to its height and dense foliage. The tree grows large and stout in natural habitats but is smaller in urban areas.
Its leaves are medium-sized and lance-shaped. They are arranged alternately and crowded at the ends of branches. New leaves have multiple colours, making the tree spectacular when new leaves appear. Older leaves are green and shiny.
The flowers of the honey tree are small, light yellow, and borne on long stalks from near the junctions of leaves and branches. These flowers are edible and sweet, hence the common name. The flowering season is usually from February to May. Fruits are small and curved with a tiny ‘beak’.
The bark and oil from the seeds are used to treat various ailments in native medicine, from fractures and skin diseases to rheumatism and snake bites. The oil is used in the cosmetics industry and also for cooking. The wood is used as timber.
Extracted from ‘What tree is that? The Ruk Rakaganno Layperson’s Guide to Some Trees of Sri Lanka’. Updated by the author using ‘Flowering plants commonly encountered in Sri Lankan habitats’ by Sriyanie Miththapala, Siril Wijesundara and Janaki Galappatti. (2011). National Trust: Colombo.
| Madhuca longifolia Common/ English name: Honey tree Family: Sapotaceae (The palu/palai family) Sinhala name: Mi; Tamil name: Illupai | |
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