ဘဲ့ပြား

Myanmar Name –  Bebya

Common Name – Pink mempat, Katong, Mahkame

Botanical Name – Cratoxylum neriifolium Kurz

Family Name – Hypericaceae

Habitat – Native tree species in Southeast Asia, and Myanmar is one of the countries within its natural range. The distribution in Myanmar can vary, but it is typically found in the lowland and hill rainforests and other suitable habitats across different regions of the country.

Habit – Large tree with a straight, tall trunk and a generally upright habit. It can reach heights of up to 30 meters. DBH ranging from approximately 30 cm to 60cm when mature.

Bark – Typically gray or brown and may have a rough texture.

Leaves – Leaves simple, opposite and decussate, lanceolate to elliptic oblong, margin entire.

Inflorescence – Inflorescence axillary or terminal cymes or panicles, in axils of fallen leaves, heterotristylous or heterodistylous.

Flower – Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, pedicel short, bracteoles minute, caducous, sepals 5, subequal, lanceolate-ovate, coriaceous, usually accrescent, persistent, petals 5, oblanceolate to obovate, alternate to sepals, crimson red, white, pink, caducous or persistent.

Fruit & Seed – Fruit capsule, ovoid-ellipsoid, 3 septiferous valved, approximately 8mm long, yellow-brown-black, dehiscing loculicidally, persistent or woody placenta at the base of the capsule. Seeds oblong-obovate, winged unilaterally or all round, brown, embryo cylindric-oblong, erect.

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

Usage – In traditional medicine, believed to have properties that can treat ailments such as fever, diarrhea, and skin diseases. Also cultivated for its ornamenta.