Elephant Apple

Dillenia indica

Beng/Hindi: Chalta

A beautiful mid-sized nearly evergreen indigenous tree with short but straight trunk, large leaves have conspicuous veins and sharply toothed edges. The large, scented flowers grow singly among the leaves fruit 3 to 5 inches diameter.

Bark: smooth, reddish

Leaf:  Large (8-14’’), narrow, pointed, set on short stalks near the ends of the branches with conspicuous veins and sharply toothed edge

Fruit: 3 to 5 inches diameter, spherical, hard outside, fleshy within, contains many seeds set in a glutinous pulp

Season: Flowering during early rains (Jun-July), fruits ripe around September

Range/habitat: The tree is found from Nepal and Assam to Ceylon, and in Malaya. It is indigenous near Calcutta, and is often planted in villages, and elsewhere. Partial to high rainfall area.

Trivia and notes: The fruits are made into “chanteys” by Bengalese.  The fruits of this tree are believed to be adapted to make use of "white ants", or termites, in the process of germination. The pulpy insides of the fallen fruits are eaten away by the termites and the pulp is replaced by their earthy nests, in which the seeds germinate readily. The seedlings then burst out of the shell of the fruit. Elephants are also fond of this fruit and spread the seeds through dungs.