Heaven fruit, Borneo rubber, Akar gerit-gerit besi
Willughbeia coriacea

Family: Apocynaceae

What it is like

Willughbeia coriacea is an evergreen Climber growing to 30 m (98ft) 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. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 30

Where it is found

Tropical, Sub-Tropical, Monsoonal. Terrestrial habitat (Primary Rainforest; Secondary Rainforest; Freshwater Swamp Forest)

Southeast Asia - Peninsula Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Fruit.

Medicine

Rating: 1

The latex is used medicinally.

Other

Rating: 3

A latex obtained from the plant makes a good quality 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.

How it is grown

Humid tropics. Before the introduction of Hevea brasiliensis as the main source of rubber W. coriacea was cultivated in plantations to produce a high quality rubber.

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, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Akar garok, Akar gerit hitam, Akar getah gaharu, Akar getah menjawa, Akar getah gegerip jantan, Akar getah jela, Akar getah ujul, Akar kubal, Akar jitan, Akar jualoh, Buah surga, Karet akar grutuk, Kelang, Lumbu jawa, Puchong kapur,

Synonyms

Ancylocladus coriaceus (Wall.) Kuntze Ancylocladus firmus (Blume) Kuntze Ancylocladus minutiflorus Pierre Ancylocladus nodosus Pierre Ancylocladus vriesianus Pierre Tabernaemontana macrocarpa Korth. ex Blume Willughbeia burbidgei Dyer Willughbeia firma Blume Willughbeia minutiflora (Pierre) K.Schum Willughbeia nodosa (Pierre) K.Schum Willughbeia vrieseana (Pierre) K.Schum