Melodorum fruticosum
Melodorum fruticosum, the white cheesewood, is a plant of the Annonaceae family native to South-East Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket Province, Thailand.Description
This plant has a cream-coloured flower with a single alternate leaf. It gives out a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening.
It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant and hematinic.
This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks. Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower in ancient Cambodian literature and folklore.
In Thailand a traditional cookie, also called ลำดวน, is made in the shape of the flower.
