Dracontomelon dao
| Dracontomelon dao | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Anacardiaceae |
| Genus: | Dracontomelon |
| Species: | D. dao |
| Binomial name | |
|
Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Dracontomelon dao, (Tagalog: dao; Indonesian: dahu; Malay: sengkuang; Thai: ka-kho) also known as New Guinea walnut, Pacific walnut, or Paldao, is a tropical canopy tree distinguished mostly by its height (reaching up to about 45 metres or 148 feet) for its greyish-brown trunk which is branchless up to about 20 m (66 ft), and for its narrow buttresses which can reach up its trunk up to 6 m (20 ft) high. It is native to the riverine and limestone forests of Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Thailand. The species name is taken from the tree's name in Filipino.
The seed surface typically displays an intricate pattern with an approximate five-fold symmetry, and its five rhombic protrusions are reminiscent of primitive Buddha images. It is revered and called "Five Buddhas" in the North-East of Thailand and in Laos.
The municipality of Dao, Capiz and the Barangay (village) of Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga are named after the dao tree.
A specific specimen of Dracontomelon dao has become an icon for students and a tourist attraction of sorts for the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
The tree inspired National Artist Leandro Locsin's design for the university's Student Union building, and for the buildings that now house UPLB's College of Agriculture and College of Development Communication - all three Locsin-designed buildings bearing a motif of repeating dao-like buttressed columns. The tree itself stood on the banks of Molawin Creek, on the site where the Student Union building was commissioned to be put up, so Locsin made the tree an element part of the building's layout, standing at the passenger dropoff point in front of the main entrance.
...
Wikipedia