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Common names: rambai, chupa, kapundung (Malaya). Origin: Malay Peninsula, Indonesia. Distribution: Southeast Asia. Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Description: Tree, moderate size. Propagation by seed. Fruit in small clusters. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed. Cultivated in native area but little potential for expansion. Reference: Burkill 1935. Baccaurea grifithii Hook. f. Common names: larah, taban, rambai utan (Malaya). Origin: Malay Peninsula. Distribution: Malay Peninsula. Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Description: Medium tree. Propagation by seed. Dio-ecious. Fruit matures July and December. Fruit spherical, 2.5-6 cm in diameter, in clusters of 3-5; external color brownish, internal white. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed. Flavor sweet to subacid. Good potential as food crop if selection done for improved varieties. Reference: Molesworth Allen 1967. Baccaurea motleyana Muell. Arg. Common names: rambai (English); rambai, rambeh (Malaya). Origin: Southeast Asia. Distribution: Southeast Asia. Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, grafting. Dioecious. Fruit ovoid, 2.5-4.5 cm long, in small clusters; external color brownish yellow, internal whitish. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor sweet. Good potential for expanded cultivation. References: Burkill 1935, Molesworth Allen 1967. Elateriospermum tapos Blume Common names: tapos, kedui (Indonesia). Origin: Southeast Asia. Distribution: Southeast Asia. Cultural requirements: Hot, humid Tropics. Description: Large tree. Propagation by seed. Seed 5 cm long. Utilization: Seeds eaten after roasting or boiling to remove toxins. Sometimes pickled. Little potential as cultivated crop. Reference: Burkill 1935. |
Phyllanthus
acidus L. Common names: Otaheite gooseberry (English); grosella (Spanish); chermai (Malaya). Origin: India, Madagascar. Distribution: Pantropic. Cultural requirements: Hot, humid tropical lowlands. Tolerant of a variety of soils, seasonal dry period. Description: Tree to 6 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Flowers February-April (Florida). Usually monoecious. Fruit matures in 90-100 days. Fruit oblate, conspicuously ribbed, 2-2.5 cm in diameter; exterior color yellow. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor very sour, refreshing. Locally important but little potential for widespread cultivation. References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Ruehle et al. 1958. Phyllanthus emblica Skeels Common names: emblic (English); melaka (Malaya). Origin: Tropical Asia. Distribution: Tropical Asia; introduced elsewhere but rare. Cultural requirements: Hot tropical lowlands. Toler-ant of dry conditions. Description: Tree to 20 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering, grafting. Flowers June-July (Florida). Monoecious, occasionally dioecious. Fruit spherical, 2.5-5 cm in diameter, solitary; external color greenish yellow or red, internal yellowish. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor very sour, sometimes bitter; little appeal. Very rich in vitamin C. Limited potential for devel-opment as food crop. References: Molesworth Allen 1967, Morton 1955. FlacourtiaceaeDovyalis abyssinica Warb.Common names: African dove plum (English); mukambura (Kenya). Origin: Ethiopia, Kenya. Distribution: Some introduction elsewhere but relatively rare. Cultural requirements: Adapted to hot, dry tropical climate but tolerant of higher rainfall. Grows poorly in calcareous soil. Description: Shrub or tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings. Dioecious. Fruit ovoid, 2.5 cm in diameter; external color light orange, internal yellow. Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, preserved. Flavor sour to subacid; limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation. References: Eggeling 1940, Ruehle et al. 1958. |
© MMIV - Volume 1 Number 4 Whole Number 4 Tropical Visions August 2004