Cratoxylum formosum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cratoxylum formosum |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cratoxylum
|
| Species: |
formosum
|
Cratoxylum formosum is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the Hypericaceae family. This family includes many plants, some of which are known for their pretty flowers. People often call this tree "mampat" when it's used for its wood.
Contents
About the Mampat Tree
The mampat tree is a tropical plant. This means it grows in warm, humid places. You can find it in many countries across Asia. These include Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
When It Flowers
These trees have a special way of knowing when to bloom. They usually flower after a period of dry weather. Then, they need some rain, followed by dry weather again. This pattern helps them produce their lovely pink flowers.
Size and Appearance
The mampat tree can grow quite tall. It can reach up to 20 meters, which is about the height of a six-story building! However, trees used for timber usually need to be very large. The mampat trees rarely get big enough to be cut down for wood.
Uses of the Mampat Tree
In some places, like Laos, people use Cratoxylum formosum trees in different ways.
- Making Charcoal: The wood from these trees can be used to make charcoal. Charcoal is a type of fuel that burns very hot and is used for cooking or heating.
- Edible Leaves: The young leaves of the mampat tree are also eaten! People describe them in different ways, like sour, smooth, or even blood-red. This might depend on the specific type of mampat tree.
Local Names
The mampat tree has different names in various languages, depending on where it grows:
- In Laotian, it's called ໄມ້ຕີ້ວ (mâi tȋːw).
- In Malay, it's known as mampat.
- In Thai, it's called ผักติ้ว (Phak tiu).
- In Vietnamese, it's known as thành ngạnh đẹp.
