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Claoxylon indicum (Reinw. ex Blume) Hassk.
| Family Name: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Synonyms: | Erythrochilus indicus Reinw. ex Blume |
| Common Name: | Laping Budak, Jarak Kayu, Lampin Budak, 白桐树 |
Claoxylon indicum or Laping Budak is a small tree that grows to 8 m tall. Leaves are egg-shaped, rough to touch, hairy underneath. Male and female flowers are green to white coloured, borne on separate plants. The female inflorescence tend to be longer than the male inflorescence. The fruit is a light green to bluish green capsule with seeds covered in a thin red covering known as aril.
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)), Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Oval |
| Maximum Height | 8 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | From India to South China and Southeast Asia, throughout Malesia to New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Coastal Forest, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a small tree or shrub with sparse branching that grows to 8 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are rough to touch, egg-shaped to elliptic, hairy underneath, measuring 13 - 25 cm long by 7 - 15 cm wide. |
| Flowers | Flowers are dioecious where the male and female inflorescence are borne on different plants. The female clusters measures up to 33 cm long, flowers are green to white with 3 - 4 sepals. The male clusters are shorter, up to 7.5 cm long, flowers are green with 3 - 5 sepals. |
| Fruit | The fruit is a dull light green to bluish green capsule covered in dense whitish short hairs, measuring 4 mm long. Seeds are 3 - 3.8 mm in diameter, covered in a thin red covering known as aril. |
| Habitat | Occurs in evergreen forest, disturbed hill evergreen forest, open areas with secondary growth, on limestone and granitic, altitude between 80 - 1650 m. |
| Associated Fauna | Its flowers are insect-pollinated, and seeds dispersed by birds. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed and stem cuttings. |
| Etymology | Greek, klan, break; Greek, xulon, wood; Latin, indicum, from India, referring to one locality in the natural distribution of this species |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The young leaves are used to make sauce, or eaten as steamed vegetables. Medicinal: The leaves have a laxative effect, and various diseases can be treated by taking a decoction of them. Asthma can be treated using a poultice of the leaves and pieces of bark. Others: The leaves may be used as fish food. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It can be withstand roadside conditions and it has a neat egg-shaped crown, and combination of bright green leaves, and bright yellow withering leaves. However, it is not as long-lived as most other trees. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | General, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Coastal |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Fruits) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water, Little Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Drought Tolerant, Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Rough |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Alternate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Dentate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate, Cuspidate |
| Foliar Base | Attenuate, Cordate |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Inflorescence Type | Raceme |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green - Bluish Green, Green - Light Green |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule |
References
| References | van Welzen, P.C. & Esser, H. (2005) Claoxylon. In: Chayamarit, K. & van Welzen, P.C. Euphorbiaceae (Genera A-F). Flora of Thailand, 8(1): 159−161. |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1518 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2811 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |