Dracontomelon

Dracontomelon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Anacardiaceae, growing mostly in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. The fruit may be used in local cuisine, especially as a souring agent, including in Vietnam, where it is known as sấu.

Species

• Dracontomelon costatum Blume - Borneo, Sumatra
• Dracontomelon dao Merr. & Rolfe (many synonyms) - Southeast Asia to Solomon Islands
• Dracontomelon duperreanum Pierre (syn. D. sinense) - southern China and Vietnam
• Dracontomelon laoticum C.M.Evrard & Tardieu
• Dracontomelon lenticulatum Wilkinson - New Guinea
• Dracontomelon macrocarpum Li - China (Yunnan)
• Dracontomelon petelotii Tardieu - northern Vietnam
• Dracontomelon schmidii Tardieu - Vietnam
• Dracontomelon vitiense Engl. - Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa (Upolu)

Reclassified species

The following are known synonyms:

• Dracontomelon cuspidatum Blume: syn. of Dacryodes rostrata (Bl.) H. J. Lam
• D. laoticum Evrard & Tardieu: syn. of Protium serratum (Wall. ex Colebr.) Engl.
• D. pilosum Seem.: syn. of Didymocheton alliaceus (Miq.) Mabb.
• D. papuanum Lauterb.: syn. of Protium macgregorii (F.M.Bailey) Leenh.
• D. multijugum Radlk. (formerly C.DC.): syn. of Toona ciliata var. multijuga (Kurz) Panigrahi & S.C.Mishra

Culinary use

The most commonly eaten species is Dracontomelon duperreanum, which produces an edible fruit that is eaten in Cambodia, Vietnam and China. In Vietnamese, the plant is called ' and is a common urban tree in Hanoi; the fruit is called quả sấu. The fruit is used in Vietnamese cuisine both as a souring agent and a candied treat similar to the Japanese umeboshi. The treat is popular among youths. In Chinese, the fruit is called 仁面.