Dracontomelon dao, the Argus pheasant-tree,[3]Pacific walnut, Papuan walnut, New Guinea walnut, paldao or simply dao,[4] is a tree in the family Anacardiaceae, native to tropical Asia.
Description
Dracontomelon dao grows as a tropical canopy tree distinguished mostly by its height (reaching up to about 37 metres or 121 feet),[5] for its greyish-brown trunk which is branchless up to about 20 m (66 ft), and for its narrow buttresses which can reach up its trunk up to 6 m (20 ft) high. The species name is taken from the tree's name in Filipino.[6]
The fruit is an ingredient in some popular Vietnamese dishes, made into a syrup for mixing into cold drinks, and can be dried and preserved as a snack.[8]
Preserved dracontomelum whole and halved
Medicinal uses
A decoction from the stem of the Lamyo is drunk by the Ayta people of Bataan as a treatment for wound infections.
The bark is used in the treatment of dysentery and in traditional medicine to provoke an abortion[9]
The fruit is depurative. It is used in the treatment of dermatitis. The mature fruits are used in dentistry[10]
Manuscript production
In Bali, the bark of the dao (book) is among several natural ingredients used to make a concoction for curing lontar leaves before they are bound to make writing material for manuscripts.[11] The tree itself was among many plants identified in manuscripts of the Kakawin Ramayana
(as rahu).[12]
Use in decoration
The seed surface typically displays an intricate pattern with an approximate five-fold symmetry, and its five rhombic protrusions are reminiscent of primitive Buddha images. It is revered and called "Five Buddhas" in the North-East of Thailand and in Laos.
In popular culture
Namesake localities
The municipality of Dao, Capiz and the Barangay (village) of Dau in Mabalacat, Pampanga are named after the dao tree.
The tree inspired National ArtistLeandro Locsin's design for the university's Student Union building, and for the buildings that now house UPLB's College of Agriculture and College of Development Communication - all three Locsin-designed buildings bearing a motif of repeating dao-like buttressed columns. The tree itself stood on the banks of Molawin Creek, on the site where the Student Union building was commissioned to be put up, so Locsin made the tree an element part of the building's layout, standing at the passenger drop-off point in front of the main entrance.[14]
Some time before 2005, the dao gradually began to lean "20 degrees to the side with respect to its vertical position due to its heavy crown and weakened root system", leading then-Chancellor Wilfredo P. David to order that it be cut down in 2005.[14][15] With testimony from some of UPLB's plant pathologists and urban forestry experts, and support from the Philippines' National Commission on Culture and the Arts and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, protesters managed to prevent the tree from being cut until David's term ended, after which the next chancellor, Luis Rey I. Velasco, decided not to cut it, and instead declared it one of the university's twelve "Centennial Heritage Trees."[13][14][15] When Typhoon Milenyo battered Los Baños and caused numerous trees in UPLB to fall down, the leaning Dao remained standing, turning the leaning dao into a legend of sorts; every time a strong typhoon comes along, UPLB constituents eagerly go to see if the dao is still standing, and anticipate another headline that says "UP Los Baños' leaning dao tree survives (name of typhoon)".[14][15]UP Los Baños leaning dao tree survives 'Pedring'‘Condemned’ leaning dao tree at UPLB survives ‘Milenyo’
