White Dammar (Vateria indica)

Family: Dipterocarpaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

A plant endemic to India and threatened by habitat loss, White Dammar or Vateria indica is a large, slow-growing, and evergreen tree reaching a height of about 40 m. The trunk is cylinder-shaped covered with light gray, smooth bark. The leaves are oval with a short point and red when young. The flowers are white, fragrant, and hand in drooping clusters.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Bark/Inner Bark

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring food and as a substitute or adulterant for ghee. — The seeds contain up to 50% of a solid oil known as 'piney tallow'.; This can be used for flavouring food and as a substitute or adulterant for ghee.; The bark is used to control fermentation in when making alcoholic beverages such as arrack and toddy.

Habitat & North American Range

Found primarily as a canopy or emergent tree in the west coastal evergreen forests of India, it is also occasionally found in secondary evergreen dipterocarp forest in the south. Found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. (Zone 10)