Aporosa cardiosperma

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 20 m tall. The leaves are simple. They are 8-18 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. Male and female flowers are separate on the same plant. Male flowers are yellow and can occur separately or in clusters in a spike. The fruit are yellow when ripe. The fruit is a capsule 10-12 mm across. The fruit is small and berry-like. It is edible. There is one brown seed.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forests and on the plains.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. It is the aril of fleshy layer around the seeds that is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

In southern India plants flower and fruit December to June.

Its other names

Local names

Chappu palam, Etti, Kambokka, Kampotta, Sali, Salle, Saroli hannu, Sulla, Thali, Valaka, Vetti, Vettikan, Vettil

Synonyms

Aporosa affinis Baill. [Invalid]; Aporosa lindleyana (Wight) Baill.; Aporosa sphaerocarpa Mull.Arg.; Croton cardiospermus Gaertn.; Scepa lindleyana Wight;