What is a catmon tree?

Question

fruit tree

Answer 1

Common names: Elephant-apple, Indian catmon (Engl.)

Indian Catmon was introduced in the Philippines in 1908. it occurs in India, Siam, and Malaya.

The link for seed provider is given below in source.

Another link points to the photos.

Indian catmon or elephant apple  is a more or less deciduous tree growing up to 10 meters or more in height, with a few wide-spreading branches. The leaves are alternate, mostly terminal, oblong or broadly lanceolate, 20 to 30 centimeters long, 6 to 12 centimeters wide, stiff, curving, outward, with toothed margins, and beautifully ribbed, with 30 to 40 pairs of side veins. The flowers are very large, 15 to 20 centimeters across, solitary at the ends of the twigs, are facing downward. The sepals are rounded and yellowish green, while the petals are white, free, obovate, and 5 to 7.5 centimeters wide. The fruit, which is made of ripened carpels and enclosed by greatly enlarged and thickened imbricating sepals, is large, somewhat rounded or broadly ovoid, 12.5 to 15 centimeters in diameter, yellowish green, hard and tough. The seeds are numerous and compressed, with a hairy margin.

According to Burkill, the fruit is eaten in Malaya as a flavoring with curries and may be made into jam. It is very watery, 86.4 percent being water, with 10 percent of insoluble matter, and very little that is nutritious. In the Siamese Malay States the pulp of the fruit is used to wash the hair.

According to Kirtikar and Basu, the calyces of the fresh ripe fruit have the following composition: Moisture 86.40 percent, alcoholic extract 3.00 percent, water extract 0.37 percent, and insoluble s 10.23 percent. The aqueous extract was made from the calyces after alcoholic extract was made and thus represents only pectous matter etc. the composition of the alcoholic extract obtained is as follows: Moisture 8.20, tannin 1.40, glucose 12.15 mallic acid 2.21, petroleum ether solubles (fats, etc.) 0.72, albuminoids 0.85, ash 12.63, and pectous matter, etc., 61.84.

Kirtikar and Basu maintain that the bark and the leaves are astringent, and are used medicinally. The fruit is slightly laxative, but is apt. to induce diarrhea, if too freely indulged in. The juice of the fruit, mixed with sugar and water, is used as a cooling beverage in fevers and as a cough mixture.

Dillenia indica  

a.k.a. Chulta  

see more pictures of the Elephant Apple

Large, knobby fruit with acidic flavored edible pulp. Fruits smell a bit like onions.

Description: Medium sized tree, up to 50+ft in some regions. The flowers are highly ornamental and fragrant.

Hardiness: The elephant apple is near-tropical but can survive short bursts of frost to 28-32F.

Growing Environment: Trees grow well in humid, warm climates. Grow in full sun. Water regularly.

Propagation: By seeds and cuttings.

Uses: Eaten raw. Unripe fruits are often pickled.

Native Range: Native to India.

Answer 2

Please check your spelling. Nothing in Floridata under this name.