Rumduol or metrelle mesnyi (រំដួល), Cambodia's national flower, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the soursop family.
Its fragrant flowers are very popular in the kingdom. The plant has yellowish flowers and gives off a pleasant, lingering scent, particularly in the early evening. The plant can reach a height of twelve metres.
Health
The plant bears clusters of fruit that turn dark red when ripe. The fruit is edible and sold at many markets around the country. Rumduol is used in traditional medicine in rural Cambodia. The flowers are reputed to be able to treat headaches, dizziness and heart problems, while the bark is said to be ideal for treating fever.
Beauty
In ancient times, the flower was made into a fragrant lip balm called kramuon Rumduol. Its sweet smell made it particularly popular with Cambodian women. Beautiful women were sometimes called Rumduol, and the term is also used as a first name for women.
Useful
The stems are often used by rural dwellers as firewood and building materials for their homes.
National flower
Rumduol was officially proclaimed Cambodia's national flower by royal decree in 2005. The plant has also been registered as a symbol of environmental preservation by the Royal Government. There are several places in Cambodia named after it, in the provinces of Sray Vieng and Battambang.
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