Gunci tree. That's how we call this small-fruited tree. I've looked everywhere, don't know what the name of this tree is in Indonesian/Malay let alone English or Latin.
Ahai, it's okay this time, I don't know, the important thing is that I've seen the picture before, maybe I've seen it before and know the name. If anyone knows, please let me know.
I wrote about it and we photographed it, because this tree is familiar to us. This gunci tree, maybe endemic to Sumatra, at least in Aceh, or in North Aceh, Lhokseumawe, or at least in the hills of Paloh Dayah, or at least it is endemic to our gardens.
This GUNCI tree is not cultivated, it only exists in the forest, a tree whose fruit is food for grain-eating birds. This tree is always in our garden.
There was a gunci tree planted in the yard of Jamaluddin/Lodin's house, decades ago. However, when he was over ten years old, already the size of an adult's arm, our mother asked for the tree to be cut down, because it was too close to home.
Our mothers who love trees and like to plant trees think gunci trees are forest trees. Only for bird feed, always grown alone, not in the yard. Actually, our mother asked for the tree to be cut down because the leaves disturbed the roof of the house.
Now there is a gunci tree in my garden, west of our mother's house. There are also several trunks at the top of our hill. It grows by itself. There always is. Nothing cuts it. There is a GUNCI tree that is tens of years old, still as big as an adult's waist. The tree has been growing for a long time. Congested. Or, because it grows on a hilltop.
Eat Gunci Fruit
The people here really like this gunci tree. Small fruit becomes bird food. Humans can also eat it. However, it is not used as food. When I was little I ate gunci fruit several times, it tasted sweet and sour.
We collect the ripe gunci fruit, then mix a little salt and chili, then we eat. Nothing continues. Even though the gunci fruit tastes good, it is sweet and sour, the fruit is small with hard seeds, it is not easy to eat.
If we bite the contents to remove the seeds, they are too small so that for each fruit there is only a little content. If we eat a lot of the fruit, the seeds will be chewed up. If we chew the seeds, they are hard and the seeds are not tasty. If we swallow all the contents of the seeds, we are afraid of stomach ache. Therefore, gunci fruit is not used as food. Let it remain food for the little birds. The little birds love it.
Growing Wild in the Forest, Uncut
The tree grows wild in the forest that we use for gardening. We never cut down sword trees. The tree is strong, the leaves are smooth (small, the width of a thumb), they do not interfere with the plant, it takes a long time to grow and develop. The tree can also be useful for birds, the fruit they eat. We like that, besides that the gunci tree is shady, not thorny. It is indeed a beautiful tree.
Many other trees are considered pests, but there are several trees that are not considered pests, including the gunci tree. Apart from gunci trees, which are not considered pests and are not cut down in the fields are siklat trees (Aceh), Iboh trees (Acpalem forest), pupok trees, balek angen trees, and several other trees.
The gunci tree is the most beautiful, its fruit and flowers are colorful, just like in a garden. I myself like gunci trees, but I don't dare to plant them, like planting grass.
Thank You
February 22, 2023
Kind Regards
Thayeb Loh Angen
Captions for All Photos: The GUNCI tree in my garden, west of our mother's house, Zubaidah Binti Juhan. Also the GUNCI tree perched on a hill in our forest garden, in Paloh Dayah, Mukim Paloh Timu, Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Sumatra, Friday, February 10 2023. Photo by Jamaluddin-Lodin. With Nikon D7000 Camera, Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm Lens.
