Antidesma bunius aka Chinese Laurel

Antidesma bunius, or bignay, is an evergreen fruit tree. It belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family. Other names include buni, Chinese laurel, and Herbert River cherry. Its native range spans China, India, and Southeast Asia. It extends through New Guinea to northern Australia and Pacific islands. It grows in forests, along rivers, and on disturbed ground.

This bushy tree can also grow as a shrub. Many plants stand 10–20 feet [3–6 metres] tall. Cultivation profiles give a size of 33 feet [10 metres] tall and wide. Large trees can reach 98 feet [30 metres]. The trunk is often straight, with grooves or buttress roots. Its long, narrow leaves are glossy and dark green. Growth is at a moderate pace. People grow it for fruit and as an ornamental tree.

Male and female flowers grow on separate plants. Flies and other insects pollinate them. The species does not set fruit through self-fertilisation. Small, round fruits hang in clusters near the shoot tips. Each cluster can hold 20–40 fruits. Each fruit has a large seed beneath thin, tough skin. Ripe fruit is juicy and mildly sweet. Some people notice a bitter aftertaste. Eat the fruit raw, or cook it into preserves. Jellies may need added pectin to set. Young leaves serve as salad greens or a steamed side dish.

Bignay grows best in hot, humid lowlands. Give it sun or light shade and fertile soil. Soil should hold moisture, though the tree accepts several soil types. It prefers a pH of 6–7 but tolerates 5.5–8. Shelter young trees from wind. Sources place it in USDA zones 10–12. It may survive brief light frosts, but remains frost tender. Seed-grown trees may take five or six years to bear. Grafted plants may fruit in two or three years.

The tree suits screens, windbreaks, gardens, and public spaces. It can help restore woodland by colonising open ground. This same trait creates a risk of unwanted spread. Sources report invasive growth in the Philippines. Bark supplies fibre for rope, and wood has been tested for cardboard. Traditional medicine uses the leaves and roots, but this does not establish their safety. The bark contains a toxic alkaloid.