Brown bollygum
Litsea glutinosa

Family: Lauraceae

What it is like

A tall shrub or small tree. It grows 6-10 m high and 3-5 m across. The young growth is sticky. The leaves are 7-28 cm long by 3-18 cm wide. They are dark green above and paler with white hairs underneath. They are leathery and taper to the tip. The flower groups are 1-4 cm long. There are 6-14 flowers clustered in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are 0.4 cm across and cream or green. They have a scent. The fleshy fruit is 0.8-1 cm long by 0.8-1.1 cm wide. They are black.

There are 200 or 400 Litsea species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It northern Australia it grows from sea level to 600 m altitude. They need well drained soil and slight shade. It grows in coastal areas. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The sweet pulp under the red skin is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seed. The seed are slow to germinate. This may take 6 months.

Trees begin to bear fruit after 5-6 years.

Its other names

Local names

Bagnara, Bolly beach, Chandra, Elumpurukki, Garbijaur, Garur, Heluka, Huru tangkalak, Jaisanda, Kawala, Kukur chita, Maeda lakari, Maida lakadi, Maida lakri, Mai-mi-myen, Mai-ong-tong, Malai, Malek, Meda lakri, Meda sak, Medh, Menda, Mushaippeyetti, Naramamidi, Narra alagi, Ondon,Pohon medang tangkalak, Ratun, Singrau, Soft bollygum, Suppatnyok, Tagu-shaw, Tulan, Uralli, Wuru lilin

Synonyms

Litsea chinensis Lam.; Litsea sebifera Blume; Litsea persella Ridley; Litsea brassii; Sebifera glutinosa Lour.; and others