Gedraphol, Kuy
Willughbeia edulis

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Willughbeia edulis is an evergreen Climber growing to 25 m (82ft) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 25

Where it is found

Lowland primary rain forests.

E. Asia - Bangladesh, Assam, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Cambodia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw. A pleasant flavour. The yellowish, ovoid fruit is about the size of a lemon. The fruit is about 5cm in diameter.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The latex is used as a plaster for sores and as a treatment for yaws. The stems are used to treat yaws, dysentery, and liver discomfort. The roots are used internally to treat jaundice, heartburn, and diarrhoea.

Antidiarrhoeal: Provides symptomatic relief for diarrhoea. Also see Astringent.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Other

Rating: 2

Every part of the plant, on being wounded, discharges copiously a very pure white viscid latex, which is soon, by exposure to the air, changed into an indifferent kind of rubber.

Latex: A source of rubber.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the lowland wet tropics.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Climber

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Aguh, Akar getah gerip, Arkurbal, Bel tota, Bel-tata, Buah padang, Cay guoi, Gedra-phol, Hrenchi, Jitan, Kenjet, Kubal madu, Kuy, Laleng-tenga, Lalong, Laong-doukha, Lathi am, Luti-am, Pabhoi tenga, Tabu, Talaing-no, Thitkyauk-nwe, Vuak-duo. kuy (Cambodia), gedraphol, laleng-tenga, bel-tata (India), dton-kuy, kuiton, kreua and katong-katiew (Thai), talaing-no (Myanmar) and gu?i (Vietnamese).Kubal madu in Indonesia refers to a similar edible relative, W. sarawacensis.

Synonyms

Ambelania edulis (Roxb.) J.Presl Ancylocladus cochinchinensis Pierre Ancylocladus curtisianus Pierre Ancylocladus edulis (Roxb.) Kuntze Pacouria roxburghii Kostel. Willughbeia cochinchinensis (Pierre) K.Schum. Willughbeia curtisiana (Pierre) K.Schum. Willughbeia dulcis Ridl. Willughbeia gudara Steud. Willughbeia martabanica Wall.