Antidesma montanum

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It is erect and open branched and the twigs are dull brown and slender. The leaves are many and oblong. They are paler green underneath and smooth and shiny clear on top. The leaves are in 2 rows. They are narrowly oval. The male and female flowers are in groups but the female ones are larger. The fruit are small, egg shaped and red when ripe. They finally turn black. They are crowned by a style.

There are about 100-170 Antidesma species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Sikkim it grows between 300-900 m above sea level. They are widely found throughout the Philippines. It grows near streams. In China it grows in forests along rivers between 100-1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Cuba, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The fruit are eaten raw but are sour. They are used for pickles. The young leaves are used in curries.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In Sikkim fruit are available December and January.

Its other names

Local names

Ande-ande, Antatanud, Archal, Assafa, Balekesan, Bignai-pogo, Buni menir, Dakhi, Dieng pothar, Gunchiak gajah, Gunchiak, Kadivaalasoppu, Kalakalattha, Kalo bilaune, Kath jamrala, Kattupulichi, Kenyan pasir, Koril, Kunchur kung, Pani heloch, Pohon buni gunung, Puliyilamaram, Putharaval, Shial buka, Sialbuka, Tungcher, Wunen

Synonyms

Antidesma acuminatum Wight; Antidesma agusanense Elmer; Antidesma alexiterium C. Presl.; Antidesma angustifolium (Merr.) Pax & K. Hoffm.; Antidesma apiculatum Hemsl.; Antidesma aruanum Pax & K. Hoffm.; Antidesma barbatum C. Presl.; Antidesma bicolor Pax & K. Hoffm.; Antidesma menasu (Tul.) Mull.Arg.; Antidesma pentandrum (Blanco) Merr.; and others