Ochna integerrima

Ochna integerrima,[1] popularly called yellow Mai flower (Vietnamese: mai vàng, hoàng mai in southern Vietnam, although in the north, Mai Hằng usually refers to Prunus mume), is a plant species in the genus Ochna (/ˈɒknə/) and family Ochnaceae. In the wild, it is a small tree or shrub species (2-7 m tall). The timing of the yellow flowers of this plant make it very popular in southern Vietnam, where (often bonsai-style) plants are purchased during Tết.

A tree at Bà Chúa Xứ

Ochna integerrima
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Ochnaceae
Genus: Ochna
Species:
O. integerrima
Binomial name
Ochna integerrima
(Lour.) Merr.

In Vietnam, the variety of O. integerrima whose flowers have five petals is called mai vàng (yellow mai), whereas mai núi (mountain mai) flowers have between five and nine petals.

In Cambodia, it is called angkea (អង្គា), angkeasel (អង្គាសីល), angkea loeung អង្គាលឿង or kongkea គង្គា.[2]

Ochna integerrima (Thai: ช้างน้าว Chang nao) is the provincial flower of Mukdahan province, Thailand.[3]

  • Tết decoration
  • Mai tree
  • Mai flower with 5 petals
  • Mai flower with 6 petals
  • Mai with 10 petals
  • Yellow Mai flowers at Tết

Raise

Ochna integerrima are hard to grow and also difficult to take care of. Farmers choose good seeds, soak them in water, and sow them in moist soil (either in pots or in a garden).

Ochna integerrima likes moist and light soil, cannot stand waterlogging. Therefore, it is necessary to grow Ochna integerrima in high places and water them regularly.[4]

If growing in pots, pay attention to fertilizing and change the soil every year. To have a beautiful flower pot, we should often pay attention to cutting branches, bending branches, creating a posture to have unique shaped Ochna integerrima pots.

The legend of Ochna integerrima

Vietnamese people have a fairy tale about Ochna integerrima.[5] The story is about a kind and brave girl. She fought a monster to protect the villagers. Unfortunately, she died after the battle. Her bravery touched the Gods. So, although she died, every New Year comes, she is revived to visit her family and her village for 9 days. When her parents died, she transformed into a flowering tree. Every time the New Year comes, the flowers bloom brightly like the yellow shirt she usually wears. That is Ochna integerrima.

Vietnamese people believe that, on Tet holiday, Ochna integerrima can banish ghosts throughout the year.

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References
  1. Loureiro (1790) Fl. Cochinch. 1: 338. (as Elaeocarpus integerrimus)
    Merrill (1935) Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc. n.s., 24(2): 11, 265.
  2. Mathieu LETI, HUL Sovanmoly, Jean-Gabriel FOUCHÉ, CHENG Sun Kaing & Bruno DAVID, Flore photographique du Cambodge, Toulouse, Éditions Privat, 2013, p. 408; វចនានុក្រមខ្មែរ Dictionnaire cambodgien, ភ្នំពេញ ពុទ្ធសាសនបណ្ឌិត្យ Phnom Penh, Buddhist Institute, 1967-68, p. 1574, 1575..
  3. ช้างน้าว
  4. "Technical planting and taking care of Ochna integerrima".
  5. "The legend of Ochna integerrima".
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