Bignay, Bignai

Antidesma bunius

Physical Characteristics

Antidesma bunius is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Flies, insects. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid, very alkaline and saline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

E. Asia - China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia to the Pacific Islands.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Edible portion: Fruit, Leaves, Spice/flavoring. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and used in jellies, preserves etc[ 301 ]. When fully ripe, the thin but tough-skinned fruit is juicy and slightly sweet[ 200 , 301 , 303 ]. The fruit is likened by some people to cranberries and is eaten mainly by children[ 303 , 307 ]. The round fruit is up to 8mm in diameter with a relatively large seed, it is used mainly for jams and jellies, though it needs extra pectin added for it to jell properly[ 298 , 303 ]. The fruit is carried in redcurrant-like clusters of 20 - 40 near the shoot tips[ 200 ]. Some tasters detect a bitter or unpleasant aftertaste, unnoticeable to others[ 303 ]. If the extracted bignay juice is kept under refrigeration for a day or so, there is settling of a somewhat astringent sediment, which can be discarded, thus improving the flavour[ 303 ]. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or steamed and used as a side dish with rice[ 301 , 303 , 307 ]. A slightly sour flavour, the leaves turn brown when cooked but retain their texture well[ 298 ]. They can be cooked with other foods in order to impart their sour flavour[ 301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Tonic The leaves are sudorific and employed in treating snakebite in Asia[ 303 ]. The leaves and roots are used as medicine for traumatic injury[ 266 ].

Known Hazards

The bark contains a toxic alkaloid[ 303 ].