Pomello
Citrus maxima
Local / Vernacular name: ବତାେ଼ି/ଦଟାଭା
Key Facts
Genus
Citrus
Species
maxima
Origin
Unknown
Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
Campus Zone
XIM University Campus
About this Tree
XIM University campus biodiversity register (2026–27). Recorded individuals: 3; abundance rank: 29.
Leaf habit: Evergreen
Flowers / Fruits: Fragrant white flowers yield massive, basketball-sized citrus fruits with thick rinds and sweet segments.
Native range: Native to Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago, primarily in tropical riverine regions.
This citrus giant supports biodiversity by providing nectar for bees and serving as a larval host for swallowtail butterflies, while its deep roots help stabilize soil against erosion.
In traditional Southeast Asian medicine, the leaves are boiled into decoctions to treat asthma, coughs, and epilepsy, while the fruit juice acts as a natural fever-reducer. The peel is a nutritional powerhouse, containing flavonoids like naringin that help lower blood sugar and cholesterol, and it is frequently used in teas to resolve indigestion and nausea.
A major symbol of prosperity and unity in Asian cultures, it is used as a ritual offering during the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival to bring blessings. The leaves are often used in ceremonial baths to cleanse the spirit and wash away bad luck.
Related Trees
Other trees in the same family on campus
