Melodorum fruticosum
Encyclopedia
White Cheesewood, Melodorum fruticosum , is a plant of the Annonaceae
family native to South-East Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia
. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket Province
, Thailand
.
It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant
and hematinic.
This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks. Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower in ancient Cambodian literature and folklore.
Annonaceae
Annonaceae, also called the custard apple familyis a family of flowering plants consisting of trees, shrubs or rarely lianas.With about 2300 to 2500 species and more than 130 genera,...
family native to South-East Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket Province
Sisaket Province
Sisaket , is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Surin, Roi Et, Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani. To the south it borders Oddar Meancheay and Preah Vihear of Cambodia.-Geography:...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
.
Description
This plant has a cream-coloured flower with a single alternate leaf. It gives out a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening.It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant
Cardiac stimulant
A cardiac stimulant is a substance which acts as a stimulant of the heart -- for example, via positive chronotropic or inotropic action.Examples of cardiac stimulant drugs are cocaine and methamphetamine....
and hematinic.
This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks. Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower in ancient Cambodian literature and folklore.