LOTKON (Baccaurea motleyana)
The famous fruit lotcon grows wild in parts of Southeast Asia and is cultivated for its fruit in Bangladesh, Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. In the Bengali language, the fruit is known as ‘lotkon’. The scientific name of this fruits is Baccaurea motleyana. This is a tree generally growing to 9 to 12 meters in height with a short trunk and a broad crown. Each leaf is up to 33 centimeters long and 15 wide.
The Nature of Tree
The Lotkon tree is 9-12m tall, with a glabrous trunk and bushy upper part. Male and female part are separate. So that, there are dfferent types of yellow flowers, both types of flowers are fragnent. Fruits are two to five cm in size. Bome is clusters. Fruits color is yellow. The result is 2-5 seeds. The seeds have a juicy fleshly part attached to them, which is sour or sweet-sour in taste depanding on the variety. These fruits are eaten directly or made into jam. Its bark produces dyes which are used to dye silk yarn. Its wood is poor quality. It grows well in shaded area.
Naming:
Lotkon has several names. Such as Harfata, Bugi, Dubi, Bubi, Kanaizu, Latka etc.
Where it Found:
If you want to see the beautiful tree with fruits. You must visit Narsingdi district nearby Dhaka. Specially In Narsingdi district Shibpur Upozila are most grow this tree. Generally It grow in shaded area. Last year i visited of those side where grow well. When you see the tree with fruits, you will think tree branches are break with huge amount of fruits. Generally fruits grow top to bottom. In a word, everywhere.
Now it cultivate not only Narsingdi but also it grow are very well in Netrokona, Mymensingh, Tangail, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gazipur. specially it grow well in red soil area.
