Unique square-fruit Malabar Almond trees on Con Co Island

Visitors to Con Co Island in Quang Tri Province are amazed to discover the lush, century-old, square-fruit Malabar Almond trees (bang vuong) that bloom vividly each night. Alongside the ‘phong ba’ (Heliotropium foertherianum) and ‘cua da’ (Gecarcoidea lalandii), square-fruit Malabar Almond has become a symbol of this outlying land of the nation.
Con Co is an outlying island district of the country, situated offshore from the 17th parallel. It is renowned for its role in the fight against the Americans and is famous for three "specialties" that have become its symbols: ‘phong ba’, ‘bang vuong’ and ‘cua da’.

Con Co is an outlying island district of the country, situated offshore from the 17th parallel. It is renowned for its role in the fight against the Americans and is famous for three "specialties" that have become its symbols: ‘phong ba’, ‘bang vuong’ and ‘cua da’.
Long-serving officials on the island shared that the square-fruit Malabar Almond trees been present on Con Co for hundreds of years. Photo: two ancient square-fruit Malabar Almond trees provide cool shade along the edge of the island.

Long-serving officials on the island shared that the square-fruit Malabar Almond trees been present on Con Co for hundreds of years. Photo: two ancient square-fruit Malabar Almond trees provide cool shade along the edge of the island.
Over the years, the tree trunks have been bearing the marks of time.

Over the years, the tree trunks have been bearing the marks of time.
The exact age of these trees is unknown, but their trunks have grown so large that three people cannot embrace them fully by linking hands.

The exact age of these trees is unknown, but their trunks have grown so large that three people cannot embrace them fully by linking hands.
A cluster of square-fruit Malabar Almond flowers remains in the early morning sunlight.

A cluster of square-fruit Malabar Almond flowers remains in the early morning sunlight.

The square-fruit Malabar Almond flowers bloom only at night. Around 8 PM, the buds begin to gently open...

The square-fruit Malabar Almond flowers bloom only at night. Around 8 PM, the buds begin to gently open...
...In moments, the entire cluster of flowers blooms release a delicate fragrance. The square-fruit Malabar Almond is often referred to as the "queen of the night”.

...In moments, the entire cluster of flowers blooms release a delicate fragrance. The square-fruit Malabar Almond is often referred to as the "queen of the night”.
Con Co Island is peaceful today.

Con Co Island is peaceful today.

THANH DAT - SON BACH

Translated by NDO