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Epicharis cuneata (Hiern) Harms

Family Name:	Meliaceae
Synonyms:	Dysoxylum cauliflorum Hiern
Common Name:	Stem Dysoxylon, Dedali, Guatak, Pokok Parong, Pudu Sawa

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Fragrant Plant

Tree

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Medium (16m-30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Native Distribution	Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sumatra, Bangka, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Philippines
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Vulnerable (VU))

Growth Form	It is a dioecious tree up to 30 m tall, with male and female flowers on separate individuals. Its smooth, grey bark is covered with lenticels. Its clusters of flowers and fruits are found on the tree trunk and main branches, usually from ground level up.
Foliage	Its spirally arranged, stalked, pinnate leaves are up to 60 cm long, with 4–6 pairs of leaflets. The opposite, stalked leaflets have leaf blades that are egg-shaped-elliptic to egg-shaped, about 30 by 7 cm, and covered with hair. Its terminal leaflets are drop-shaped. The stalks of the leaflets are swollen at the base.
Flowers	Its flowering spikes are up to 8 cm long. Its white to pinkish or cream flowers are sweetly scented and smell like almond and musk.

Fruit	Its 3–5-chambered red fruit is top-shaped and 4 cm wide, and develops either solitarily or in clusters from the trunk. Its fruit wall has milky latex. The seeds are 2 cm long and about 1–4 per fruit.
Habitat	It grows in rainforests up to 1,500 m altitude. It occurs locally in Central Catchment Nature Reserve, along Chestnut Track, in the vicinity of Kallang Reservoir, and Nee Soon Swamp Forest.
Associated Flora	Its flowers are insect-pollinated.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Medicinal: A poultice made from its fruit is used to treat rheumatism, whereas a poultice from the root is effective against abdominal pains. Timber & Products: It is a source of timber.

Landscaping	It may be suitable for parks.
Desirable Plant Features	Fragrant (Flowers)
Landscape Uses	General, Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens

Thematic Landscaping

Naturalistic Garden, Fragrant / Aromatherapy Garden

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)

Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Ovate, Elliptical)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious
Flower Colour(s)	White, Pink, Cream / Off-White

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Cauliflorous

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit

Images

Master ID	1574
Species ID	2867
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.

Species record last updated on: 31 October 2022.