Manilkara hexandra – Rayan Fruit, Palu, Palai

Description

Manilkara hexandra is a native tree to much of the Indian subcontinent. Manilkara hexandra is a slow-growing but fairly large evergreen species. It grows in tropical and temperate forests. The tree typically attains some 12 to 25 metres tall and one to three metres in trunk circumference. The bark is grayish and rough.

The wood is hard, durable, and heavy; the density is variously reported as ranging from about 0.83 to 1.08 tonnes per cubic metre, partly depending on the degree of drying. It is used for heavy structural work, gate posts, and big beams. but also is used for turning and carpentry in spite of the difficulties of working with such dense wood.

It is used as rootstock for Manilkara zapota, and its own fruit is edible.