Black-oil tree, Intellect tree
Celastrus paniculatus

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

A sprawling shrub or large woody climber. The stems can be 23 cm across. The bark is corky. The leaves vary. They can be oval or round. They are 5-11 cm long by 3-7 cm wide. The base is wedge shaped or rounded. The flowers are in large long drooping groups at the ends of branches. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit is a capsule 9-12 mm across. It has 3 valves with 3-6 seeds. The seeds are yellowish-brown. They have a red fleshy layer around them.

The leaves and sap are used in medicine. There are about 30 Celastrus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In China it grows on forest slopes between 200-2,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Christmas Island, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Caledonia, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The unripe fruit are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. The young leaves are also cooked as a vegetable. They are used in soup. The flowers are cooked as a vegetable. They are boiled and the water changed then cooked as a vegetable.

It is a cultivated plant. Leaves and flowers are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

In India in the Ghats the fruit are available June to December.

Its other names

Local names

Dhimar-bel, Gangunge, Hinn-hmwe, Hpak-ko-suk, Jyotishmati, Kangli, Kangui, Kangun, Kanjri, Kariganne, Karkanganvel, Katong lai, Kaunya, Kiri, Mak taek, Malkangani, Malkangini, Malkauni, Myin-gaung-nayaung, Myin gondaing, Myin-lauk-yaung, Nwe-ni, Padie, Palulavam, Pimpli cha baar, Piparfal, Sankhir, Sila, Taung-bort-lu-lin, Valulavai, Warandul tonda

Synonyms

Catha paniculata Scheidw.; Celastrus alnifolius D. Donl and others