Melodorum siamensis (Taxonomic synonym Rauwenhoffia siamensis; locally called nom-maew) is a plant in the family Annonaceae. Melodorum siamensis is a small tree, related to the ylang-ylang. It requires little care and can even be kept in containers, blooming from spring until fall. Despite their plainness, the flowers of the Melodorum have a smell that can travel very far. It is for this that Asian gardeners include it among their favorite garden plants. This plant can tolerate some shade; however, lack of sunlight adversely affects flowering.
The Melodorum siamensis is a native tree of Thailand, a perennial plant with a small trunk, and a height of 1–2 meters, darkly-coloured stalks and drooping branches. Their leaves are especially monocotyledonous, long, and sharp. A single one can bloom as group of 1–3 flowers, which are yellow-green in color, 1–2 cm large, very fragrant, and have 6 petals. The flowers bloom throughout the year.
Nom-maew are the endemic plants found only in the rain forests of central and southern Thailand, but are also popular house plants. The nom-maew is sometimes called the 'tree of Thailand'.
This tree is a good container plant. It is relatively problem-free and requires little care. Even though the flowers are inconspicuous, a single flower has a quite strong and pleasant aroma, thus the plant has a high value and is often used in Asian gardens.
It is an essential ingredient in a famous Indonesian herbal concoction which includes, besides Melodorum, ginseng root, powdered corn, etc. It has a pleasant taste and aroma, and can offer a variety of benefits including: improving muscle tone, expands circulation, reduces blood pressure, restores a regular heart rhythm, increases red blood cell count, reduces pain and fatigue, cleanses the body of toxic substances and stimulates intellectual activity.
Nom-maew can be found in Thai literature due to the fact that it is so common. For instance, the Thai poem Journey to Muang Klang (Sunthorn Pho, 1806) contains a reference to the tree.
Melodorum siamensis (Taxonomic synonym Rauwenhoffia siamensis; locally called nom-maew) is a plant in the family Annonaceae. Melodorum siamensis is a small tree, related to the ylang-ylang. It requires little care and can even be kept in containers, blooming from spring until fall. Despite their plainness, the flowers of the Melodorum have a smell that can travel very far. It is for this that Asian gardeners include it among their favorite garden plants. This plant can tolerate some shade; however, lack of sunlight adversely affects flowering.