The Sabah Agricultural Park / Taman Pertanian Sabah & the Bael Fruit

Bael Fruit,Bengal quince(English); Buah Bilak,Buah Maja,(Malay).
Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa
This fruit has been used for more than 4000 years for the treatment of chronic diarrhea and dysentery.It can also be made into a refreshing, cooling drink and it's one of the best laxative for constipation.
The ancient Maja Pahit Empire of Java was named after this famous fruit.
So understandably I was shocked when the manager of Taman Pertanian Sabah near Tenom asked me if this fruit is edible. He said that he himself planted the tree more than 10 years ago but he was not sure if the fruits are edible or poisonous. Finally after he has seen me and my son eating this fruit he was convinced. However,it made me wonder how can a person like him run the most important botanical research station in Sabah.
The Bael fruit was not the only blunder. He was also wondering how come that a cerapu tree (obviously a male from the colour of its flowers) did not bear fruits. The Matoa tree (Pometia pinnata) is labeled as Brazilian longan even though it is indigenous to Papua New Guinea and several other species are also misnamed.

For the picture of Bael fruit please visit my blog:
Here.