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Phaleria macrocarpa Boerl.
| Family Name: | Thymelaeaceae |
| Common Name: | Mahkota Dewa, God's Crown, Tree of Life |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 6 m to 18 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory, Australia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An evergreen tree, Phaleria macrocarpa typically grows to 5-6 m in height but has been recorded to reach up to 18 m tall. It grows in tropical climates at up to 1200 m above sea level and grows best in places 1000 m above sea level. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Crown of dense foliage and many-branched. |
| Trunk | The main trunk reaches 15 cm in diameter, dividing into many branches. Bark greenish brown in colour, wood white. Exudes sap. |
| Roots | Large taproot system, the main root reaching 1 m in length and side roots growing up to 100 m long. |
| Foliage | Leaves green in colour, surface smooth and not hairy, upper surface older than bottom surface. |
| Flowers | Flowers small, white, trumpet-shaped and fragrant, growing in clusters of 2-4 spread throughout the tree. |
| Fruit | Fruits round in shape, ripening from green to bright red and found all over the tree, even down the trunks and at branches. Although it looks very appetising and tastes sweet, the fruit should not be consumed without prior processing as it contains saponin and other alkaloids, which can cause dizziness and even death. Seed oval to round in shape, diameter about 1 cm and brown colour on the outside and white inside. The most toxic part of the tree, the seeds numbs the tongue. |
| Cultivation | This tree is valued as an ornamental plant. |
| Etymology | The genus epithet, Phaleria, is derived from the Greek phalaros, meaning "having a patch of white" and phalos, meaning "bright white", in reference to the flowers of the tree. The specific epithet, macrocarpa, is also from Greek for "large-fruited". Its common names, God's Crown and Tree of Life, are an allusion to its reputed medicinal properties, used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments, including cancer. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: Although the plant is highly poisonous and can cause death if ingested directly, its leaves, branches, fruits and seeds have known uses in traditional medicine, having first to be processed before use. Pregnant women are, however, cautioned against consuming medicine made from this plant to avoid endangering the unborn foetus. Interestingly, in Papua New Guinea, from where the tree originates, it has been documented that locals used it only as an ornamental and were unaware of its medicinal properties. In Indonesia, fruits and leaves of P. macrocarpa are known to be used in cures for various ailments, including cancer. It seeds and branches are also known to have medicinal properties. The plant has also been used in combination with other medicinal plants to treat ailments, such as cancers, diabetes and hypertension. Research has also been carried out, investigating the medicinal properties of the plant. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Fruits, Fragrant (Flowers) |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Small Gardens, Focal Plant, Container Planting |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Toxic Upon Ingestion |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Planting Remarks | While suitable for cultivation in pots, growth is better when the tree is planted directly into the ground. Use a well-draining media, such as a mixture of soil, compost and sand in equal parts. The tree requires a lot of water in its first flowering phase. Fruits appear at about 10-12 months and take about 2 months to mature. |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting, Grafting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Apiculate |
| Typical Foliar Size Remarks | Leaves 7-10 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Trunk Type (Non Palm) | Woody |
|---|---|
| Bark Colour(s) | Brown greenish in colour. |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Individual Flower Shape | Trumpet-shaped |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flowering Period Remarks | Flowers produced all year round, but mostly during the rainy season. |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | White |
| Seed Description | Oval to round in shape, diameter about 1 cm, the seed is brown on the outside and white on the inside. The seed is the most toxic part of the tree, causing a numbing sensation on the tongue. |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | Nurhayati, I.. 2004. Conservation of Asian-Native Medicinal Plants on the University Campus. The 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok, Thailand: Knowledge Marketplace Reports. Saufi, A.. 2007. Lignans in Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. and in Linum flavum var. compactum L.. Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf. |
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Others
| Master ID | 30754 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 5083 |
| 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. |
