This mambangan or bambangan has the Latin name mangifera pajang. Included in the family Anacardiaceae or included in the genus Mangoes.
In particular, this fruit is endemic to Borneo, which means it can only be found on the island of Borneo.
For its distribution, this plant grows wild throughout the forests of Kalimantan. It’s just that because it is already rare, it is very difficult to find this fruit now.
Reportedly, currently bambangan fruit can only be found in the area of West Kalimantan.
Long Mangifera trees are similar to mangoes because they are still in the same genus. Long Mangifera grows to a height of 15-33 meters. Long Mangifera sometimes sheds its leaves at certain seasons. Stem diameter can reach 30-70 centimeters. Colored bark The fruit is brown or gray in size. The leaves are thick like leather and stiff, oval or egg-shaped, measuring 17-45 centimeters. Leaf veins are clearly visible with a length of 2-7 centimeters. Inflorescence panicles, found at the end or to the end of the branch, upright, pyramidal with a length of 30 centimeters. flowers crowded together, hairless, sweet-smelling. The petals are 5 petals, 5 strands, the inner surface is purple, the outer surface is white to pink. Stamens 5 threads, only 1-2 fertile. white fruit. Fruit type Stone fruit oval in shape with rough textured skin and brown 9-30 cm. Yellow fruit flesh, fibrous, fragrant, has a sour taste. The fruit contains 1 large seed measuring 9 × 6.5 × 4.5 centimeters. Endocarp woody, 5 mm thick. Monoembryonic seeds.
The skin of the fruit is quite thick and gummy and if it gets in contact with the sap, the sap will irritate the skin and make it itchy, as well as the sap on wood and tree bark.
If in one garden there are Mangifera foetida and Mangifera pajang trees planted together, then cross-pollination will occur where the results of the cross-pollination have the characters of the 2 species.
Long mangifera are usually grown from seed
This bambangan fruit is also known as tamarind and tamarind. Not without reason, many people consume this fruit by processing it into tamarind and salad.
For the taste of this fruit there is a sour and sweet.
There is one unique way to open the skin of this fruit, namely by peeling it, following from the base of the stalk down.
If peeled upside down, the flesh will come off with the skin.
This bambangan fruit is also known to have many benefits that are good for the body.
Rich in vitamin C, beta carotene, and antioxidants, this fruit is believed to cure breast cancer and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Also good for digestion because it is rich in fiber.