Bayur tree
Pterospermum acerifolium, family Malvaceae
A tall Southeast Asian tree with large fragrant white flowers and dinner-plate leaves
The bayur tree is a large flowering tree native to Southeast Asia, especially India and Myanmar. It has big, rough leaves used as plates, and produces long white, fragrant flowers at night in spring. People use its leaves, flowers, and wood for practical, cultural, and religious purposes.
- Leaves are used as natural plates and bowls in India
- Flowers open at night and have a strong, pleasant scent
- Native to Southeast Asia, especially India and Myanmar
- Used in Hindu religious practices
- Known as the dinner plate tree for its large leaves
What does Bayur tree look like?
The bayur tree can reach up to thirty meters tall and has a soft grey bark. Its leaves are very large, rough, and shaped like those of a maple, with a dark green top and a silvery or rusty underside. The leaves are tough, rubbery, and droop downward. In spring, the tree produces long, finger-shaped white flowers with gold stamens, which open at night and have a strong, pleasant scent. The fruit is a hard, rough capsule that splits to release many winged seeds.
Where does Bayur tree come from?
Pterospermum acerifolium grows wild along forested stream banks in Southeast Asia, mainly from India to Myanmar. It prefers climates that are seasonally wet and dry, with plenty of sunlight. The genus name comes from Greek words meaning 'winged seed,' and the species name refers to its maple-like leaves. The tree is not common in the wild, as it grows and reproduces slowly, but it is widely planted as an ornamental and shade tree in gardens and towns.
When and how Bayur tree blooms
The bayur tree flowers in spring, opening its fragrant white blooms at night. It thrives in full sun and in areas with a wet and dry seasonal cycle. The tree is usually grown from seed. Its leaves are harvested when mature for use as plates or packaging. The wood, though soft, is cut for planking and boxes. The tree’s slow growth means it is often outcompeted in wild settings, but it is popular in cultivated landscapes.
How Bayur tree is used
People use the bayur tree in many ways. Its large leaves are shaped into plates and bowls, or used to wrap and store goods. In India, the leaves are stitched or moulded into dinnerware, while in Burma they are used to dry tobacco. The fragrant flowers are used as perfume and to repel insects, and are also valued in traditional medicine as a tonic and remedy for various ailments. The tree is used in Hindu religious practices.
Kinds of Bayur tree
The bayur tree is known by different names in various regions, such as Kanak Champa in India and Bayog in the Philippines. There are no major cultivated varieties mentioned, but its use and significance vary locally. Its leaves and flowers are used in different ways depending on the country and tradition.
What Bayur tree means
The bayur tree holds cultural importance in its native regions. In India, it is used in Hindu rituals. Its leaves, flowers, and wood have practical and symbolic value. The tree is appreciated for its shade and ornamental presence in gardens and towns. Its flowers are noted for their strong fragrance and nocturnal blooming, which attract moths for pollination.
Questions people ask about Bayur tree
Where does the bayur tree come from?
The bayur tree is native to Southeast Asia, especially the region from India to Myanmar, and grows naturally along forested stream banks.
What does the bayur tree look like?
It is a tall tree with large, rough, maple-shaped leaves that droop downward. In spring, it produces long, white, fragrant flowers that open at night.
What are the uses of the bayur tree?
People use its leaves as plates and for packaging, its flowers for perfume and traditional medicine, and its wood for planking and boxes. It is also used in Hindu religious practices.
Why is it called the dinner plate tree?
The name comes from its very large leaves, which are shaped and used as natural plates and bowls, especially in India.
What does the bayur tree symbolise or mean in culture?
The bayur tree is valued in Hindu culture for religious purposes and is appreciated for its practical uses and fragrant flowers.
Good reading and sources
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
- Pterospermum acerifolium on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Pterospermum acerifolium", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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