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Aglaia macrocarpa (Miq.) Pannell

Family Name:	Meliaceae
Synonyms:	Aglaia pycnocarpa Miq., Epicharis macrocarpa Miq.

Aglaia macrocarpa is a large tree that can grow to 35 m tall. It has compound leaves with a wrinkled texture, small pear-shaped flowers borne in clusters and bright red to pinkish-yellow fruit. The fruit is a pear-shaped capsule that splits into 3 to 4 lobes upon maturity, revealing its seeds covered completely in a red, orange or white fleshy aril.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Native to Singapore

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree (Big (>30m))
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	35 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Vietnam, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, the Philippines (Palawan), Java, Sulawesi and Maluku
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest, Riverine)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Critically Endangered (CR))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a large tree up to 35 m tall, with reddish-brown bark. Buttresses may be present.
Foliage	The leaves are compound pinnate measuring up to 70 cm long. Each leaflet is leathery, egg-shaped, elliptic to broadly lance-shaped, somewhat wrinkled on both sides, measuring 5 - 25 cm long by 2 - 7 cm wide.
Stems	Twigs are thick with tips covered in short reddish brown or grey hair-like scales.

Flowers	Flowers are borne in an inflorescence, up to 30 cm long and 20 cm wide. The flowering shoots are covered in hair-like scales similar to those on the twigs. Each flower is small, pear-shaped, 3-petalled, measuring 2 - 3.5 mm long by 1.6 mm wide.
Fruit	The fruit is a bright red, orange or pinkish-yellow, pear-shaped capsule, measuring at 6 - 7.5 cm long and 3.5 - 7.3 cm wide. Upon maturity, the capsule splits into 3 to 4 lobes and each cavity can contains up to 1 seed. Seeds are enclosed within a red, orange or white fleshy aril.
Habitat	Occurs in lowland and hill dipterocarp forest up to 1500 m altitude.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed.
Etymology	The species epithet, 'macrocarpa' refers to the size of the fruit, made up of the greek words, 'makros' meaning large and 'karpos' meaning fruit.

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Slow

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

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Compound (Odd-Pinnate)

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Spiral
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblanceolate, Obovate, Ovate)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acuminate, Caudate
Foliar Base	Cordate, Rounded / Obtuse

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground (Tap Root)

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers , Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden

Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence
Flower Location	Axillary
Flower Symmetry	Radial

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Pink, Red, Orange
Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit
Fruit Type	Dehiscent Dry Fruit , Capsule

Seed Quantity Per Fruit

Few (1-5)

References

References	Mabberley, D., Pannell, C.M. & Edmonds, J.M. (2013). Meliaceae. In: Kiew, R., Chung, R.C.K., Saw, L.G. & Soepadmo, E. (eds) Flora of Peninsular Malaysia, ser. II, vol. 4, pp. 47- 265. Selangor: Forest Research Institue Malaysia.

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Master ID	32170
Species ID	6576
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.