Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Careya arborea

Syn. Barringtonia arborea

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Wild Guava (English)
  • Kumbhi (Hindi)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Lecythidaceae
20m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Careya arborea bark

Bark

Bark greyish-brown to reddish-brown, rough and scaly; inner bark reddish and fibrous.

Careya arborea leaves

Leaves

Large simple leaves, clustered at branch tips; obovate to elliptic; margins slightly wavy; leaves turn reddish in the dry season before shedding.

Careya arborea flower

Flower

Large showy creamy-white flowers with numerous long stamens; borne at branch tips; flowering mainly January–April.

Careya arborea fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Large spherical berry, green turning yellowish when ripe; thick rind; contains mucilaginous pulp. Numerous seeds embedded in fleshy pulp inside the fruit.

Careya arborea

Did you know?

Its large flowers have conspicuous clusters of long stamens, giving them a brush-like appearance that makes them stand out in the forest.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Afghanistan to NW. Peninsula Malaysia