Dillenia pentagyna, karmal, is a deciduous forest tree of central and eastern India that flowers spectacularly when bare, with clusters of yellow flowers along its branches. Its huge leaves are among the largest of any Indian tree. Its small, sour fruit and its flower buds are gathered as food in forest villages. It is a smaller relative of the elephant apple.
- Botanical name
- Dillenia pentagyna Roxb.
- Family
- Dilleniaceae
- Tamil
- Naytekku
- Hindi
- Karmal
- Parts used
- Ripe fruit, Flower (lists)
- Habit
- Smaller elephant-apple cousin; uva is D. indica
- Last updated
- 2026-10-26
How to recognise Karmal
The leaves are very large, often half a metre long, with strongly parallel side veins and toothed edges. They fall in the dry season.
In the hot season it produces dense clusters of fragrant, yellow, five-petalled flowers directly on the leafless branches.
The fruit is small, round and orange-yellow when ripe, with five carpels — pentagyna means “five styles”.
Elephant apple, Dillenia indica, is an evergreen tree with large, single white flowers and big, green, fleshy fruit.
Traditional use of Karmal
Forest food
In Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, people cook the flower buds as a vegetable and eat the ripe fruit fresh or pickled.
Central Indian forest food practice
Village use
The big leaves are used to wrap and serve food, and the wood is used for building and fuel.
Central Indian village practice
Modern notes on Karmal
Nutrition surveys of forest foods describe karmal fruit and buds as useful seasonal sources of vitamins and minerals.
Laboratory studies of the bark and leaves exist, but there is no clinical use.
Karmal safety
Eat it as local cooks prepare it. The fruit is very sour.
Ecology and sourcing
It grows in moist and dry deciduous forests from the Himalayan foothills through central and eastern India to Southeast Asia.
Its flowers provide nectar and pollen to bees in the hot season, when food is scarce.
Monkeys, deer and birds eat the fallen fruit.
Related plants
Questions about Karmal
Is Karmal elephant apple?
No. Elephant apple is Dillenia indica, a larger-fruited evergreen relative.
Are the flowers of Karmal edible?
The buds are cooked as a vegetable in some regions.
When does Karmal flower?
In the hot season, on bare branches.
Sources
- Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
- Wikidata item Q10960107 (Dillenia pentagyna)
Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.