I am desperately trying to find the botanical name for a plant leaf often served with som tum and kanom jeen.

My wife keeps telling me it is called "phak gatin" but for the life of me i can find no reference to its botanical name on the net.

I know it grows locally here in South Australia but no-one knows its English name and i would love to find out more about this plant.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kratin Leucaena leucocephala http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leucaena_leucocephala

Kratin Leucaena leucocephala

Many thanks,much appreciated

Its local name in Thai is กระถิน pronounced krathin. As far as I know its only really used and eaten with Som Tam but it gives off a nice flavor whatever its used for

If it is the plant i think you are refereing to it is closely related to mimosa. We have one in our backyard and it profic seeder and every year there are small plants around the parent plant so it needs to be watched so it doesn't get out of control.

It is also used as a hedging plant which keeps it under contol. In the Penang Botanic Gardens they have used it as hedges if you need an example.