မာတာကွက်

Myanmar Name – Mar tar Kok

Common Name – Bird’s cherry,  Jamaican cherry, Panama berry

Botanical Name – Muntingiacalabura L.

Family Name – Muntingiaceae

Habitat – Native to South America and Mexico. It grows all over Myanmar.Typically grows in tropical and subtropical regions. It thrives in a variety of habitats including lowland forests, open woodlands, disturbed areas, roadsides, and gardens.

Habit – small tree that can grow up to 7-12 meters (23-39 feet) tall, although it often remains smaller in cultivation. The tree has a spreading canopy with multiple slender branches.

Bark – Smooth and grayish-brown when young, becoming rougher and darker with age.

Leaves – Simple, alternate, and elliptic to ovate in shape, with serrated margins. They are glossy green above and paler below, with prominent veins. 

Inflorescence – Cymose, consists of small clusters of white flowers borne on slender stalks.

Flower – Bisexual, small, about 1 cm in diameter, with five white petals and numerous yellow stamens.

Fruit– A small, red to reddish-orange berry, about 1-1.5 cm in diameter.

Seed – Small seeds embedded in the juicy pulp.

Flowering and Fruiting Time – Flowering time from May to July and Fruiting time from July to September.

Usage – It is grown as an ornamental plant, and the fruit is sweet and juicy, making jellies, It is also used in juices and desserts. In traditional medicine, the leaves Parts of the plant, including bark and roots, are used to treat diarrhea. Diarrhea It is used to treat ailments such as respiratory problems and skin diseases.