Well Watered Elephant Apple Hybrid Fruit Plant & Tree For Ho..More

Here's a complete description of the Elephant Apple plant:

🌳 Elephant Apple Plant Description
Common Name: Elephant Apple

Other Names: Wood Apple, Chalta (in Hindi/Bengali), Outenga (in Assamese), Dillenia (genus name)

Scientific Name: Dillenia indica

Family: Dilleniaceae

Origin: Native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Southeast Asia

🌿 Plant Characteristics
Type: Evergreen tropical tree

Height: Typically 10–15 meters (33–50 feet)

Growth Habit: Spreading branches with a broad, rounded crown

Trunk: Straight and grayish-brown with rough bark

🍃 Leaves
Size: Large, up to 30 cm long

Shape: Oblong to elliptic, with prominent veins

Texture: Leathery and rough to the touch

Margins: Finely serrated

🌸 Flowers
Size: Large and showy (up to 15 cm in diameter)

Color: White with a yellow center

Fragrance: Mildly fragrant

Blooming Season: Spring to early summer

🍈 Fruit (Elephant Apple)
Type: Large, round, hard-shelled berry

Size: 5–12 cm in diameter

Color: Green when unripe, turning yellowish-green as it matures

Pulp: Tart and fibrous, pale yellow in color

Seeds: Numerous, embedded in the pulp

Edibility: Eaten raw (if soft), or cooked; used in chutneys, curries, jams, and pickles

Animals: Elephants and wild animals eat the fruit—hence the name "Elephant Apple"

🌞 Growing Conditions
Climate: Prefers humid tropical and subtropical climates

Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Moist, well-drained loamy or clayey soils

Watering: Regular watering is required, especially in dry seasons

🌿 Uses and Benefits
Culinary Uses:

Pulp is used in traditional curries, chutneys, and drinks

Sour and astringent taste makes it a good flavoring agent

Medicinal Uses:

Used in Ayurveda and folk medicine for treating indigestion, diarrhea, and inflammation

Ecological Role:

Provides food for wildlife

Good for agroforestry and reforestation

Cultural Significance: Used in rituals and offerings in some regions

🛠️ Cultivation Tips
Prune to remove dead or crowded branches

Mulch to retain moisture and improve soil health

Protect young plants from frost or prolonged drought

Let me know if you want a simplified version for students, or details on how to grow it at home or on a farm!