Kembayau is another exotic local fruit of Sarawak. It is almost similar to dabai ( Canarium
odontophyllum ), another local fruit, thus often mistaken as the same fruit.
It is actually
fruits of Cacryodes rostrata forma cuspidata (Blume) H.J.Lam. of the Burseraceae family ( which also house the genus Canarium ), also synonyms D. rostrata f. pallida, D. rostrata f. pubescens, D. rostrata f. samarensis,
Canarium articulatum, C. caudatifolium, C. crassifolium, C. cuspidatum,
C. gilvescens, C. kadondon, C.minahassae,
C. reticulatum, C. rostriferum, C rostiferum
v cuspidatum, Dracontomelon cupidatum, Hemisantriria
rostrata, Santiria Montana, S. rostrata, S. samarensis. etc.
The kembayau tree can grow up to 26 meter in
height.
Leaves alternate,
compound penni-veined, petiole base and tip swollen, petiole glabrous, leaf tip
strongly elongated with widening at the tip.
Flowers 3mm in
diameter, yellowish-white, in panicles.
Fruits 30mm long, fleshy
drupes, exocarp dark purplish, flesh yellowish.
Kembayau timber can
be used for planks and paddy pounders.
Resin extracted from
the trunk are used for making torches.
Dacryodes rostrata has two forms : cuspidata and rostrata. Interesting to know that D. rostrata is currently classified as “Least Concern” in the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species.
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