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Binjai (Mangifera caesia)

Dlium Binjai (Mangifera caesia)

Binjai (Mangifera caesia) is a plant species belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. It is a large tree with a dense canopy and a straight trunk, reaching a height of 30–45 meters with a trunk diameter of 50–80 cm. The bark is grayish-brown and fissured. All parts of the tree exude a sharp, whitish sap that causes skin irritation; upon exposure to air, this sap solidifies and turns black.

M. caesia features simple, alternately arranged leaves that often cluster near the tips of the branches. The leaf blades are elliptic to lanceolate—sometimes slightly obovate—measuring 7–12 cm in length and 3–5.5 cm in width. They are stiff, glossy green on the upper surface, pale green on the underside, and possess a prominent midrib. The leaf base is decurrent (tapering along the petiole), while the apex is blunt or bluntly pointed. The petioles are stiff, flattened, and 1–2.5 cm long.

The inflorescence consists of a panicle located at the end of a branch, reaching 15–40 cm in length; it is highly branched and densely flowered. The flowers are red, five-petaled, and fragrant. The petals are linear and approximately 10 mm long, while the purplish stamens are about 5 mm long.

The fruit is oblong to obovate, measuring 12–20 cm in length and 6–12 cm in width, with a thin, green skin. The flesh is milky white, juicy, and possesses a distinct aroma, with a flavor ranging from sweet-and-sour to sweet. The seed is oblong to lanceolate, 7 cm long and 4 cm wide, with a thin seed coat; it is monoembryonic.

This species grows at elevations below 400 meters, frequently along riverbanks. The fruit is typically consumed fresh or added to cold beverages; it is also used as an ingredient in sambal (spicy relish) served with fish dishes. The seeds can be dried and prepared as a side dish to accompany rice, while the young, tender leaf shoots are eaten raw as lalapan (fresh vegetable accompaniment). Wood is used for floorboards and as a lightweight construction material.

TAXON

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Anacardiaceae
Subfamily: Anacardioideae
Genus: Mangifera L. in Sp. Pl.: 200 (1753)
Species: Mangifera caesia Jack in W.Roxburgh, Fl. Ind. 2: 441 (1824)

HETEROTYPIC SYNONYMS

Mangifera caesia var. kemanga (Blume) Kosterm. in Reinwardtia 7: 19 (1965)
Mangifera caesia var. verticillata (C.B.Rob.) Mukherji in Lloydia 12: 126 (1949)
Mangifera caesia var. wanji Kosterm. (1965)
Mangifera foetida Blume in Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.: 1153 (1827)
Mangifera glauca Blume (1827)
Mangifera indica var. sylvestris Stokes in Bot. Mat. Med. 1: 448 (1812)
Mangifera kemanga Blume in Mus. Bot. 1: 202 (1850)
Mangifera membranacea Blume (1850)
Mangifera polycarpa Griff. in Not. Pl. Asiat. 4: 416 (1854)
Mangifera taipa Buch.-Ham. in Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 5: 326 (1826)
Mangifera taipan Buch.-Ham. ex Miq. in Fl. Ned. Ind. 1(2): 631 (1859)
Mangifera utana Buch.-Ham. (1826)
Mangifera verticillata C.B.Rob. in Philipp. J. Sci., C 6: 337 (1911)

PUBLICATIONS

Chayamarit, K. (2010). Flora of Thailand 10(3): 265-329. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.

Girmansyah, D. & al. (eds.) (2013). Flora of Bali an annotated checklist: 1-158. Herbarium Bogorensis, Indonesia.

Nelson Sutherland, C.H. (2008). Catálogo de las plantes vasculares de Honduras. Espermatofitas: 1-1576. SERNA/Guaymuras, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Nurtjahya, E. & al. (2026). Flowering Plants of Bangka Island: Native and Introduced. Acta Botanica Hungarica 68: 127-156.

Turner, I.M. (1995). A catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Malaya. Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 47(1): 1-346.

van Steenis, C.G.G.J. (ed.) (1974-1978). Flora Malesiana 8: 1-577. Noordhoff-Kolff N.V., Djakarta.

VERNACULAR NAME

Bali: Wani
Brunei: Binjai, Belunu
Cebuano: Mangga wani
Chinese (simplified): 灰皮杧
Chinese (simplified): 缤再果
Czech: Mangovník sivý
English: Binjai, Jack mango, White mango
Filipino: Bauno, Bayuno, Baluno, Belunok
Indonesia: Binjai, Kemang, Binglu, Wani
Java: Wani, Kwuta
Maanyan: Wenu
Malaysia: Binjai, Beluno, Bundo
Slovak: Mangovník sivobelasý
Subanen: Gwani
Sunda: Binglu
Thai: บิน-ยา - ยา-ลัม - ลัม-ยา Bin-yaa, Yaa-lam, Lam-yaa

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium
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