Cynometra cauliflora
Encyclopedia
Cynometra cauliflora or commonly Nam-nam is a native of Malaysia, grown mainly in northern Peninsular Malaysia
and can be more widely cultivated in other states, mainly in kampongs and villages. This tree belongs to the bean
family. It is a small tree with a thick much branched stem. The flowers are rather small about 1.2 cm across. They appear on the stem in clusters.
s, which if not examined closely may appear as 2 leaves. The leaflet is asymmetrical in shape measuring 5-15cm long and 2.5-7.5cm wide. It is shiny smooth, dark green above and paler below.
The fruits are kidney-shaped
, 5-10cm long and 5cm wide.The pod does not split open readily, but a line is visible along the fruit and divides it into two. The texture of the fruit surface is rough and wrinkled, pale greenish/yellow and dull looking. The flesh is juicy and yellow in colour. It produces a smell and tastes sourish. The seeds are large.
d by budding, approach grafting
and other methods.
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
and can be more widely cultivated in other states, mainly in kampongs and villages. This tree belongs to the bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
family. It is a small tree with a thick much branched stem. The flowers are rather small about 1.2 cm across. They appear on the stem in clusters.
Foliage
Each leaf is made up of 2 leafletLeaflet
A leaflet in botany is a part of a compound leaf. A leaflet may resemble an entire leaf, but it is not borne on a stem as a leaf is, but rather on a vein of the whole leaf. Compound leaves are common in many plant families...
s, which if not examined closely may appear as 2 leaves. The leaflet is asymmetrical in shape measuring 5-15cm long and 2.5-7.5cm wide. It is shiny smooth, dark green above and paler below.
Fruits
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
, 5-10cm long and 5cm wide.The pod does not split open readily, but a line is visible along the fruit and divides it into two. The texture of the fruit surface is rough and wrinkled, pale greenish/yellow and dull looking. The flesh is juicy and yellow in colour. It produces a smell and tastes sourish. The seeds are large.
Propagation
The tree is always multiplied by seed, although it can be propagatePlant propagation
Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants from a variety of sources: seeds, cuttings, bulbs and other plant parts. Plant propagation can also refer to the artificial or natural dispersal of plants.-Sexual propagation :...
d by budding, approach grafting
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
and other methods.