Crooked rough brush
Streblus asper

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A tree up to 15 m high and 30 cm across the trunk. It is a scraggly tree with stiff branches. The bark is smooth and grey. The small branches are hairy and interwoven. The leaves are alternate and 4 to 12 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. They have a narrow base and a pointed tip. There are narrow teeth along the edge. They are somewhat rough textured. The flowers are yellow or green and small. Male flowers are in round masses and female flowers occur singly. The fruit are oval and pale yellow. They are red when mature. They are 8 to 10 mm long and fleshy with seeds 5 to 6 mm long. The fruit are sweet and edible.

There are 14-22 Streblus species. They are in tropical and subtropical Asia. The plant is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They are widely distributed in the Philippines in areas of shrub at low altitudes and very common in regions with a very long dry season. Plants can tolerate heat, drought and flood. In Nepal is grows up to 500 m altitude. In India is grows in deciduous forests. In China it grows near villages and in forests between 200-1000 m altitude in S China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. They are also used for juice. They should possibly not be eaten in large amounts. The sap contains a milk clotting enzyme used to coagulate milk. The young leaves are cooked and eaten.

The ripe fruit are especially eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, latex, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are often spread by termites. Plants can be grown from root suckers. It can also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Ajara, Barinki, Barivenkachettu, Cheri theso, Cherootpathi, Choriya, Chur hesto, Daheya, Dahia, Dieng-soh-khyrdang, Geta netul, Geta nithul, Hkajang-nai, Jindi, Kakkabedi, Kakshi, Kalios, Karchanua, Khaksi pate, Khande, Kharanchi-bol, Kharaoli, Kharota, Khoi, Khorua, Khorus, Koi, Kuchna, Kurripla, Kuttippirai, Mai-hkwai, Mitlemare, Mitligade, Okhne, Pakki, Parava, Paraya, Paruka, Pasuna, Peleh, Pira, Piraayamaram, Pirasu, Pohon serut, Poi, Ponaligade, Pukki, Punje, Que sheng shu, Ranjih, Ruoi, Rusa, Sahada, Sahra, Sahuda, Sehora, Seora, Serphang, Serut, Shakhotaka, Shoura, Siamese rough bush, Sihora dahya, Siora, Sitanike, Snay, Tempinis, Tintapparuya, Toothbrush tree, Vittil

Synonyms

Trophis asper Retz.; Diplothorax tonkinensis Gagnepain; Epicarpus orientalis Blume;