Ascarina philippinensis

Family: Chloranthaceae

What it is like

A forest tree with sweet smelling leaves. It grows 7-24 m high. The trunk is cylinder shape and about 40 cm across. The bark is rough and cracked. The leaves are spaced along the branches in opposite pairs. They have a short leaf stalk. The leaves are broadest near the middle. The leaves are 4-8 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. They are entire and without lobes. The leaves are green but darker above. The flowers are near the ends of the branches. Male and female flowers are separate on separate plants. The flowers are small and female flowers are smaller than male flowers. The fruit are 5-8 mm long.

There are 10-13 Ascarina species. They are from Malaysia to Polynesia and New Zealand. They are tropical or subtropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in the forest between 400 and 2800 m altitude. The plant occurs in the Philippines, Borneo and Papua New Guinea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The leaves have been recorded as being eaten cooked.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

It grows wild.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ascarina reticulata Merr.;