Symplocos odoratissima

Symplocos odoratissima is a tree in the family Symplocaceae, native to Southeast Asia. The specific epithet odoratissima means 'most fragrant', referring to the flowers.

Description
Symplocos odoratissima grows up to 28 m tall, with a stem diameter of up to 50 cm. The bark is scaly or smooth. Its papery leaves are obovate to elliptic and measure up to 32 cm long. The inflorescences bear yellowish-white flowers. The pear-shaped fruits turn blue when ripe and measure up to 2.5 cm long.

Distribution and habitat
Symplocos odoratissima is native to much of maritime Southeast Asia, from the Nicobar Islands east to the Maluku Islands and north to the Philippines. Its habitat is dipterocarp forests, often on swampy terrain by rivers, to elevations of 500 m.

Uses
The bark of Symplocos odoratissima is used as a dye. In Java, the bark is also locally used in traditional medicine.

Varieties
Plants of the World Online recognises two varieties of Symplocos odoratissima:
 * Symplocos odoratissima var. odoratissima – from the Nicobar Islands east to the Maluku Islands and north to the Philippines
 * Symplocos odoratissima var. wenzelii (Merr.) Noot. – Borneo and the Philippines