National Flower of Cambodia - Romduol

Mitrella mesnyi is a species of flowering plant in the soursop family, Annonaceae. In a 2005 royal decree by King Sihamoni of Cambodia, the rumdul or romduol (Thai: ลำดวน), as it is known in Cambodian, was proclaimed the national flower of Cambodia.

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.

White Cheesewood, Melodorum fruticosum, is a plant of the Annonaceae family native to South-East Asia. It is one of the two species considered the national flower of Cambodia. It is also the provincial flower of Sisaket Province, Thailand.

This plant has a cream-coloured flower with a single alternate leaf. It gives out a pleasant fragrance, especially in the evening. It also has medical uses as a tonic and mild cardiac stimulant and hematinic. This small tree reaches a height between 8 and 12 m. It is very common in Cambodia, where it is often planted as a decorative tree in public parks. Khmer women have been compared to the Rumdul flower in ancient Cambodian literature and folklore.

Source, Images: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodorum_fruticosum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romduol