Chaetocarpus castanocarpus

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A shrub 1-5 m tall or a tree 45 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf blades are 4-18 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are greenish-yellow. They are 3 mm across. The fruit are 1-2 cm across. They are yellow but turn reddish-brown as they ripen. The seeds are black with a small fleshy layer (aril) around them.

There are about 12 Chaetocarpus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dense forests in tropical Asia. It grows from sea level to 500 m altitude. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andaman Islands, Asia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akang, Bedi, Bukir, Dengin bobok, Dusun bukit, Hmanba, Jamilas, Jentian, Kantecha'l, Kayu batu, Kayu dusun, Lawang, Masam, Mauhi, Medang serukan, Nampadu, Obah nasih, Perupuk batu, Pingas, Sa-o-ya, Ubar bantan

Synonyms

Adelia castanocarpa Roxb.; Chaetocarpus castanocarpus var. genuina Mull.Arg.; Chaetocarpus pungens Thwaites; Gaedawakka castanocarpa (Roxb.) Kuntze; Regnaldia cluytioides Baill.;