Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
|---|---|
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Brunei, Borneo, Malay Peninsula, southern Peninsular Thailand, Brunei, Sumatra, Java |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Large tree with buttresses, able to grow up to about 27 - 50 m tall in its natural habitat. |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Girth size can reach up to 56 cm wide, buttresses can be up to 2 tall, bark is pale brown to grey and surface is smooth to finely fissured. |
| Foliage | Green elliptic to obovate leaves, measuring about 5 - 24 cm long and 2 - 7.5 cm wide, stipules triangular, petiole about 1 - 8 cm long, margin entire, surface smooth, young leaves tend to be red. |
| Flowers | White to pale yellow flowers borne on a terminal cymose inflorescence, male flowers are about 2.4 - 3.5 mm wide, stamens yellow, female flowers are about 3.2 - 5.3 mm wide and with a thick stigma and style. |
| Fruit | Fruit is oblong-ellipsoid in shape, pendulous and turns from green to almost black when ripen, contains 3 brownish-grey seeds. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | White to whitish-blue latex exudes from the plant when injured. |
| Habitat | Can be found in primary and secondary forests, mixed dipterocarp forests and forest edges. |
| Etymology | Genus Elateriospermum comes from Greek words "elaterios" which means "driving away" and "sperma" which means "seeds" and they refer to the laxative properties of the seeds. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Seeds Food (Herb or Spice): The cooked seeds can be pounded with water to make a paste and can be used to add flavour to sambal. Medicinal: The latex is applied on to the cracked soles of feet. Timber & Products: The wood can be used as a source of fuel. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Red |
|---|---|
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Obovate, Elliptical) |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| Foliar Base | Cuneate |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown, Green |
|---|
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1582 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2875 |
| 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. |