D-Did you know that in Laos and Thailand, the seed of Dracontomelon dao has a strong symbolic value and called "Five Buddhas" because its five rhombic protrusions are reminiscent of primitive Buddha images?

Dao - Pacific walnut - Dracontomelon dao

Dracontomelon dao, the Argus pheasant-tree, Pacific walnut, Papuan walnut, New Guinea walnut, paldao or simply dao, is a tree in the family Anacardiaceae, native to tropical Asia. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. The fruit is sometimes sold in local markets and is a popular food in some areas. The tree is planted as a fruit tree in villages, and also as an ornamental in roadside plantings. The specific epithet (dao) is the common name for the species in Filipino.

Dracontomelon dao is an evergreen (or briefly deciduous when growing in areas with a dry season), large tree. Dracontomelon dao grows as a tropical canopy tree, distinguished mostly by its height (45(-55) m), for its greyish-brown trunk which is branchless up to about 20 m height and 100 - 120 cm in diameter, and for its narrow buttresses which can reach up its trunk up to 6 m high. Bark surface irregularly scaly, greyish-brown with brown or greenish patches, inner bark pink or red.

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