Gwe

Myanmar Name – Gwe

Common Name – Hog plum

Botanical Name – Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz

Family Name – Anacardiaceae.

Habitat – It is native to the Philippines and Indonesia, but has been widely naturalized in South Asia, South East Asia and Southern China.

Habit – A deciduous tree, 10–15 m (33–49 ft) tall (sometimes up to 25 meters (82 ft) in height); branchlets yellowish brown and glabrous.

Bark – with straight trunk and smooth ash colored bark having pleasant aromatic smell.

Leaves – Leaves are large, with pairs of leaflets (see illustration) on petioles that are 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) and glabrous; leaf blades 300–400 mm (12–16 in), imparipinnately compound with 5-11 opposite leaflets; leaflet petiolule 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in); leaflet blade ovate-oblong to elliptic-oblong, 70–120 mm (2.8–4.7 in) × 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in), papery, glabrous on both sides, with margins that are serrate or entire; the apex is acuminate, lateral veins 12-25 pairs.

Inflorescence – The inflorescence is paniculate, terminal, 250–350 mm (9.8–13.8 in) and glabrous, with basal first order branches 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in).

Flower – The flowers are mostly sessile and small, white and glabrous; calyx lobes are triangular, approx. 0.5 millimeters (0.020 in). Petals are ovate-oblong, approximately 2.5 by 1.5 mm (0.098 in × 0.059 in); Stamens are approximately 1.5 mm (0.059 in).

Fruit – The fruit is a drupe ellipsoid to elliptic-ovoid, olive green becoming yellowish orange at maturity, 35–50 mm (1.4–2.0 in) × 25–35 mm (0.98–1.38 in); inner part of endocarp woody and grooved, outer part fibrous; mature fruit usually have 2 or 3 seeds.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – flowers from April–June and fruits from August–September.

Usage – The young shoot is consumed as a vegetable. The fruit of this plant is the chief source of vitamin C. The fruits and roots are used as a remedy to satisfy the thirst. The bark has been utilized for its property of improving diuresis.