Galo nut
Anacolosa frutescens

Family: Olacaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 5-25 m tall. The leaves are alternate and somewhat pointed at both ends. They vary in shape. Leaves can be 7-15 cm long by 4-6.5 cm wide but can be larger or smaller. The leaf stalks is 5-7 mm long. The flowers are small and yellow and occur in small clusters. They are on small lumps. There can be 5-15 flowers per lump. The fruit is fleshy with a stone inside. The fruit is a nut produced in the axils of leaves. It has a thin shell and is about 2 cm long and across. The fruit are yellow to orange. They are on stout stalks 8 mm long. The pulp of the fruit is 4-9 mm thick. There is one seed.

There are 17 Anacolosa species. The nuts are 3.9-11.1% protein.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows well at low and medium altitudes up to 700 m. It can grow to 1400 m altitude. It does best in a shady location and in places without a pronounced dry season. They occur only in Cagayan, Benguet, Mt Province, Nueva Viscaya, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro and Masbate in the Philippines.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The kernels of the nuts are eaten raw. They can be roasted. The pulp of the fruit can be eaten fresh but is usually boiled to enhance the flavour.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed take over 100 days to germinate. It can be grown by air-layering. This takes 4 months until separation. Cleft grafting can be used.

Germination and early growth is slow. A mature fruit weighs 8-16 g. A kernel weighs 0.8-2.8 g.

Its other names

Local names

Aluloi, Belian landak, Kopi gunung, Matoboto, Pohon kopi gunung, Salungugapit, Tangki leuweung, Yupa

Synonyms

Anacolosa heptandra Maing. ex Masters; Anacolosa luzoniensis Merr.; Stemonurus frutescens Blume;