Lepisanthes berry, Perupok tree
Lepisanthes alata

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 15 m high. The leaves are 20-45 cm long and have 3-5 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are sword shaped and 10-20 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The young leaves are purple. The flowering stalks are often drooping. Male and female flowers are separate on the same tree. The flowers are dark red or purple. The fruit are in clusters of about 20 fruit. The fruit are oval and 3 sided. They are 3-4 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are dark brownish purple and turn red. The pulp is fleshy and white. The seeds are narrowly oval and 2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.

There are 24-40 Lepisanthes species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests along river banks. It grows up to about 100 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. They are sweet but tart.

It is sometimes grown as a fruit tree. The fruit are also sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

Fruiting can occur throughout the year.

Its other names

Local names

Blimbing cina, Cereme landa, Engkilili, Enkelili, Ki angir, Kurumei, Peraju, Perupok, Pohon salakiki suwiwi, Sintatanod, Sipaju, Sonkungu, Terengganu cherry

Synonyms

Otophora alata Blume; Capura alata (Blume) Teijsm. & Binn.; Otophora edulis C. E. C. Fischer;