Rumdul or its scientific name, the Mitrella mesnyi is a national flower of Kingdom of Cambodia as how we, Malaysia have bunga raya (hibiscus flower) as our national flower. It was proclaimed as the national flower by King Sihamoni of Cambodia in 2005.
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| also known as Mitrella mesnyi |
it is a species of flowering plant in the soursop family, Annonaceae. This plant has a yellowish-white flower with a single alternate leaf. It has a height of 8–12 m and a stem diameter of 20–30 cm. It gives out an attractive smell in the late afternoon and evening, a distinctive fragrance that can be smelled from a long distance.
The rumdul plant also bears edible fruits growing in clusters that will turn dark red when ripe.
The rumdul is very common in Cambodia, where another flower known by the same name is Melodorum fruticosum.
Cambodian people like to grow it for decoration of houses and public parks. Due to fragrant smell of Rumdul flower, ancient time of Khmer people like to use it for material to produce lip waxes fro women. Stem of Rumdul can also be used for supplement construction materials and firewood. In the season of maturing of Rumdul fruit, people who live close to the forest is always collecting the Rumdul fruits to sell for living. Due to the attraction of fragrant smell, therefore, Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower, and also some Khmer’s author has written some song such as Rumdul Kraties and Rumdul Pursat, etc.
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