Cockspur orange, Climbing orange
Toddalia asiatica

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

A spiny and woody vine. It is a shrub that grows 2-20 m long. The prickles are curved. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are pointed at both ends. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The leaflets are 3-10 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide. The flowers are small, greenish and borne in large compound flower arrangements. This is 7.5 cm long. Male and female flowers are separate. The fruit are small and borne in fairly large clusters. They can be 3 to 5 angled. The fruit are 5-7 mm across. There are up to 7 seeds. Probably now Zanthoxylum asiaticum

There is only one Toddalia species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. Common throughout the islands of the Philippines in secondary forest and virgin forest at low altitudes but up to 1700 m. In Yunnan in China it grows up to 1500 m above sea level. In Swaziland it grows in the low veld only. It grows in the lowlands. In Sichuan. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa (country/location of origin), Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Central Africa, China, Congo, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, Ryukyu, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are used for food flavouring. They have a pungency like pepper. They are crushed. All parts of the plant including the leaves are cooked and can be used for flavouring. The fruit are boiled to make soup. The ripe fruit are pickled.

Leaves are sold in local markets. Fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Akar kucing, Areuy beleketebek, Arbagube, Barbariburreed, Chingatti, Dahana, Dauag, Duri kengkeng, Forest pepper, Hujalashang, Jangli-kali-mirchi, Jangli-kalimirch, Jeruk merambat, Kaadumenagu, Kaara-mullu, Kaatukarimilaku, Kaboat, Kada-tod ali, Kaka-toddali, Kanchano, Kanj, Kanra, Kattumilagu, Keizi, Kondakashinda-verupatta, Kondakashinda, Krear kai ngor, Krue ngoo hao, Kulasa, Limri, Lopez root, Main kanra, Maiqiumaile, Manger, Mazhuanteng, Mdongo-nyesi, Milagaranai, Milagarnai, Mirapa-kandra-verupatta, Mirapakandra, Moolacamaymaram, Mrapagandra, Msangalusi, Mullumastigae, Nachi-wagum, Ngu: haux, Pos tsib nuas, Rabet kingking, Rocato, Saphijirik, Shia-sieng-ung, Shint-ma-tet, Sia-soh-sat, Singhanay, Siru kindu mullu annu, Subit, Taklesin, Tiktaksen, Tiktakshein, Tindupara, Tundapora, Tundpora, Wild orange tree, Yerakashida

Synonyms

Paullinia asiatica L.; Toddalia aculeata (Smith) Pers.; and several others