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Star Gooseberry

Updated: Sep 29, 2020

Mayom | มะยม| Phyllanthus acidus

Family: Phyllanthaceae - Genus: Phyllanthus

Star Gooseberry can be found near the Special School area of the Thai Child Development Foundation and in the area of Paksong.

 

The Star Gooseberry tree (aka the Malay Gooseberry), is a tree with edible small yellow berries fruit. Despite its name, the plant does not resemble the gooseberry, except for the acidity of its fruits. It tastes sour and tart. The fruit grows in clusters on the trunk of the tree.

Thai people believe that a Mayom tree planted in front of the house will bring fame and success.

Star Gooseberry is harvested in January. As the fruit does not soften when ripe, it is harvested when the fruit begins to drop.


 

The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 meter tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is usually scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. All parts of the plant contain latex.
Tree

THE STAR GOOSEBERRY TREE

The Star Gooseberry tree can be between 2 to 9 meter high.

The tree's dense and bushy crown is composed of thick, tough main branches, at the end of which are clusters of greenish, 15 to 30 centimetre smaller branches.





 

The leaves of the papaya are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, with seven lobes.
Leaf

STAR GOOSEBERRY LEAVES

The leaves are 2 to 7,5 centimetre cm long and thin, they are green and smooth on the upper side and blue-green on the underside.






 


The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FLOWERS

STAR GOOSEBERRY FLOWERS


The flowers can be male, female or hermaphrodite. They are small and pinkish and appear in clusters in 5 to 12,5 centimetre long.

Flowers are formed at leafless parts of the main branches, at the upper part of the tree.









 
The fruit is a large berry that is generally spherical or cylinder in form and about 15–45 centimeter  long and 10–30 centimeter in diameter. The fruit grows on the stem of the tree.
Fruit

STAR GOOSEBERRY FRUIT

The fruits are numerous, oblate, with 6 to 8 ribs, and densely clustered. They are pale yellow or white, waxy, crisp and juicy, and very sour. 4 to 6 seeds are contained in a stone at the center of each fruit.




 


CULINARY USES OF STAR GOOSEBERRY

Various parts of the plant are used for food.

Star gooseberries can be used for chutneys, beverages and shakes, sugared star gooseberries can be boiled into a jam

In Thailand it can be used as an ingredient to make Som Tam, and as a pickle, sold on every market.

How to use the Star Gooseberry for consumption: cut in half and remove the stone. To juice the fruit, remove the stone, blend the fruit with water in a blender, and drain through a sieve. Because of the fruit’s potency, only a few teaspoons of fruit juice are needed per cup of water. When cooked, Star Gooseberries turn ruby red when cooked.


NUTRITION

100 gram of Star Gooseberry fruit contains:

  • 28 kcal

  • 0 .155 gram Protein

  • 0.52 gram Fat

  • 0.8 gram Fiber

  • 5 milligram Calcium

  • 4 milligram Iron

  • 23 milligram Phosphorous

  • 8 milligram ascorbic acid

  • 1 milligram Thiamine

  • 5 milligram Riboflavin

 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE OF STAR GOOSEBERRY


NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.


The Star Gooseberry is said to be used as a blood purifier and appetite stimulant. They are also used said to be a remedy

  • bronchitis,

  • biliousness,

  • treatment of digestive disorders such as urinary concretions,

  • diarrhea

  • piles.

  • a concoctions also can act as a liver tonic and blood enrichment remedy.

  • A concoction of leaf with pepper is said to treat sciatica and rheumatism.


 

INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience

For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!


Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!


INTO THE WILD!

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