Indochina dragonplum
Dracontomelon duperreanum Pierre
Sấu (Dracontomelon duperreanum) is an evergreen shade tree characteristic of Hanoi and northern Vietnam; its sour green fruit is used in soups and to make “sấu drink”, a summer refresher.
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Indochina dragonplum — PlantIndochina dragonplum — Fruit & seeds
Indochina dragonplum — Trunk & bark
Indochina dragonplum — PlantIndochina dragonplum — PlantIndochina dragonplum — Fruit & seedsOverview
A tree 15–30 m tall with a broad crown and smooth grey bark. Leaves are odd-pinnate with pointed ovate leaflets. Small greenish-white flowers form terminal clusters. The drupe is round and flattened — green and sour-fleshed when young, yellow-brown when ripe and edible around a large stone.
Green sấu fruit makes “sấu drink” — bruised, sugared and served cool; it also flavours sour soup, braised fish and preserves. The wood serves joinery, and the tree is planted along streets and parks for shade.
Life cycle
From seed to productSeed
Hard seeds from ripe fruit are sown fresh and germinate in 3–5 weeks.
Sapling
Light-demanding saplings grow moderately; grafted trees are planted to fruit early.
Flowering
Small greenish-white clusters open in early summer, attracting insects.
Fruiting
Green fruit in early summer is used for the drink; fruits ripen yellow-brown in late summer.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Vietnam (native)42%
- South China24%
- Laos · Cambodia18%
- Other Southeast Asia10%
- Other plantings6%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- Organic acidsSourness of green fruit36%
- Vitamin CAntioxidant24%
- SugarsRise as fruit ripens18%
- Tannins · flavonoidsIn bark and leaves22%
Uses
- Green fruit for sấu drink, sour soup, braised fish
- Preserves and candied fruit; ripe fruit edible
- Street shade tree; timber for joinery
Properties
- Leaf
- Odd-pinnate
- Fruit
- Round flattened drupe, green to yellow-brown
- Crown
- Broad, evergreen
Habitat & conservation
Native to northern Vietnam and South China; likes a monsoon tropical climate and deep, moist, well-drained soil; often planted in streets, parks and temple grounds.
Conservation
Not globally threatened (IUCN: Least Concern). Common within its range and widely planted, with no major concern.
References
- 1Plants of the World Online — Dracontomelon duperreanum — Kew Science, 2024
- 2IUCN Red List — Dracontomelon duperreanum — IUCN, 2019
- 3Cây thuốc và động vật làm thuốc ở Việt Nam — Vietnam Academy of Science, 2004
- 4Hình ảnh minh hoạ lấy từ Wikimedia Commons, tôn trọng giấy phép ghi kèm — Wikimedia Commons,
- 5Nguồn ảnh: Nguyễn Thanh Quang (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 6Nguồn ảnh: Geographer (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,
- 7Nguồn ảnh: AlleinStein (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons — Wikimedia Commons,