Pitanak Fruit Plant (Dracontomelon costatum)

Common Names: Besengkiang, Katep, Landur, Lengkugang, Petanang, Pistanak, Rengau, Sangkuang, Tekosoi

Botanical Name: Dracontomelon costatum

General Information:

Upper canopy tree, up to 30 meters tall, Belongs to the cashew and sumac family Anacardiaceae. Native to Sumatra and Borneo (Brunei, Sabah, West-, Central-, South- and East-Kalimantan)

The specific epithet "costatum" is from the Latin meaning "ribbed," referring to the leaf veins.

Provides an edible fruit gathered from the wild, Fruits can be eaten raw, having a nice, juicy, sweet taste. Fruits ripen to purple-red

A rainforest fruit from Sumatra and Borneo, often eaten candied as a dessert treat or used as a sour addition to cooked dishes

Medicinal Uses:

Leaves possess antiseptic properties against a broad spectrum of bacteria

Fruits reportedly have cooling properties

Used to treat sore throat, skin inflammation, itch, internal ulcers

Considered an antidote for poisoning

Cultivation Information:

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 3 to 4 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate