Barringtonia macrostachya (Jack) Kurz, Rep. Pegu (1875)

Synonyms
Baranda angatensis Llanos
Barringtonia acuminata Korth.
Barringtonia annamica Gagn.
Barringtonia balabacensis Merr.
Barringtonia conchinchinense (Blume) Merr. ex Gagn.
Barringtonia craibiana Knuth
Barringtonia cylindrostachya Griff.
Barringtonia fusicarpa Hu
Barringtonia isabelaensis Knuth
Barringtonia molluccana Knuth
Barringtonia olivacea Knuth
Barringtonia pendens Knuth
Barringtonia rosea Wall. ex Knuth
Barringtonia wallichiana Knuth
Careya macrostachya Jack
Doxomma acuminatum (Korth.) Miers
Doxomma cochinchinense (Blume) Miers
Doxomma cylindrostachya (Griff.) Miers
Doxomma macrostachyum (Jack) Miers
Michelia acuminata (Korth.) O.Kuntze
Michelia macrostachya (Jack) Kuntze
Stravadium acuminatum (Korth.) Blume
Stravadium conchinchinense Blume

Description
A shrub to medium-sized tree, 4-20(-30) m tall, trunk 3-35(-90) cm in diameter, twigs 5-10 mm in diameter; leaves obovate-oblong to oblong, (10-)15-25(-45) cm x (4-)6-8(-10) cm, base cuneate, apex cuspidate or caudate, shallowly serrate-crenulate, glabrous, petiole 2.5-10(¡ª17) cm long; spike terminal or ramiflorous, pendulous, (10-)19-45(-75) cm long, up to 60-flowered or more, opening buds 0.7-0.9 cm long, calyx tube about 1-3 mm long, sepals free, red, purple, or magenta, petals 4, elliptical, convex, 2-2.5 cm x 1.5 cm, white, pink or red, stamens in 4(-5) whorls, 2.5-3 cm long, white, red or pink, ovary 4-celled, style 4-4.5 cm long, red or magenta; berry obovoid, 5.5-9 cm x 2-4 cm, tetragonous, pericarp 3-10 mm thick, exocarp 0.5-3 mm thick, mesocarp spongy and fibrous, 1-8 mm thick, endocarp fibrous, 0.5-2 mm thick; seed ovoid, 3-4.5 cm x 1-2.5 cm, quadrangular, ribbed. [from PROSEA]

Ecology
In undisturbed coastal, swamp, and mixed dipterocarp forests up to 700(-1300) m altitude. Often on alluvial sites or near rivers, but also on hillsides and ridges. On sandy to clay soils, also on limestone. Flowers at night to attract bats and moths. Fruits are probably dispersed by small rodents.

Uses
Bark is locally used as fish poison. The leaves are used against stomach aches. The pulped roots are used against ringworms and sore eyes. The seeds duly prepared, are considered edible in Indo-China.

Distribution
South China, Indo-China, Burma, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes, Moluccas.

Local names
Borneo: Karuk, Putat, Tampalang, Tempalang.
Burma (Myanmar): cay tam lang, thay nya oo.
English: Red putat.
Indonesia: kayu putat, tuwah dotan (Sumatra), panga ha (Morotai).
Malaysia: putat bukit putih, putat gajah (Peninsular), semuting (Sarawak).
Philippines: apalang (Tagalog), karakauat (Negrito), ulam (Tagbanua).
Thailand: chik nom (peninsular), chik nawn wan, chick.
Vietnam: tam lang, chi[ees]c ch[uf]m to.