Manilkara hexandra is a tree species native to Sri Lanka, known locally as Palu and in English as Ceylon iron wood. It belongs to the family Sapotaceae, a group of mostly tropical trees and shrubs often valued for latex, timber, or fruit. Its fruit is recorded as an edible part of the species.
What does Manilkara hexandra look like?
As a member of Sapotaceae, Manilkara hexandra shares the family's typical woody, evergreen habit, with a dense crown and milky latex common to many genera in this group. The common English name, Ceylon iron wood, points to a notably hard, heavy timber, a trait widely associated with species in the genus Manilkara.
Where does Manilkara hexandra grow?
The species is native to Sri Lanka. Sapotaceae as a family has a broad native range across the tropics of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and several of its genera, including Manilkara, are well represented across South and Southeast Asia.
What is its conservation status in Sri Lanka?
Manilkara hexandra is recorded as native to Sri Lanka, meaning it occurs naturally in the country, though not necessarily exclusively here as an endemic would.
What is it called in Sinhala?
In Sinhala, the species is called Palu, the name by which it is most commonly known among Sri Lanka's indigenous and traditionally used plants, a category covered in Lakpura's wider nature and flora records.
Can you eat the fruit of Manilkara hexandra?
The fruit is listed as an edible part of this species.
| Attribute | Recorded detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Manilkara hexandra |
| Family | Sapotaceae |
| English name | Ceylon iron wood |
| Sinhala / local name | Palu |
| Status in Sri Lanka | Native |
| Edible parts | Fruit |
Other species in this genus
1 more, sharing the same genus.
