Dichapetalum timoriense

Family: Dichapetalaceae

What it is like

A slender straggly shrub. It can also be a climber. The stems are 3-5 cm across. The young branches are covered with soft rusty coloured hairs. The leaves are 7-18 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. The young leaves are edible. Flower clusters are in the axils of leaves. The flower clusters are 2-4 cm long with flowers about 0.4 cm long. They are dull and hairy. Flowers can be of one or both sexes. Fruit are 1.5-2.5 cm across and pear-shaped. They are yellow or golden brown. They contain 1-3 seeds.

Young branches are used as ropes. There are 200 Dichapetalum species. Most are in Africa.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It does best in a well drained soil and a partly shaded position.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The young leaves and fruit are eaten. CAUTION: The leaves are poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed. They can possibly also be grown from cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Chailletia benthamiana Turcz.; Chailletia deflexifolia Turcz.; Chailletia griffithii (non Hook.f.)F. Vill.; Chailletia timoriensis DC.; Dichapetalum deflexifolium Boerl.; Dichapetalum missionum Krause; Dichapetalum scandens Boerl.; Quilesia sericea Blanco; Scrotum cussi Rumph.; Villaresia scandens Hassk.; and others