Tembusu

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The Tembusu tree
The Tembusu tree
In botanic garden Kandy, Sri Lanka
In botanic garden Kandy, Sri Lanka

The Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) is a large tree with a dark brown, cracked bark, making the tree look somewhat like a log cake, or a bittergourd. The trunk of this tree can produce very hard wood, and this wood can be used to make chopping boards.

Also known as Fagraea cochinchinensis, Cyrtophyllum giganteum, and Cyrtophyllum peregrinum, it belongs to the family Loganiaceae. Its yellowish flowers have a distinct fragrance and the fruits of the tree are bitter tasting red berries.

Other common names: Buabua (Fiji Islands), Urung (Philippines), Temasuk (Sabah), Tatrao, Trai (Cambodia), Tam Sao (Thailand), Tembesu (Indonesia), Anan, Ananma (Burma).

It is pictured on the Singaporean five-dollar bill.

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