Lepisanthes tetraphylla

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub 2-8 m high. It can be a tree 23 m high. The trunk can be 60 cm across. The leaves are alternate and compound. The leaves have 2-10 leaflets on each side of the stalk. The leaflets are sword shaped or oval. The leaves are 7-55 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. The flowers are 10 mm across. The flowering clusters can be 2-70 cm long. The fruit are flattened and oval. They are slightly lobed. They are 2-5 cm across. They are densely hairy.

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

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in semi-dense forests. In Indonesia it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level. It grows on sandy soils but can also be on limestone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, China (Hainan), East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. The young leaves are used for curries.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Arit-arit, Bansisi, Jung, Kaluvette, Karadipongan, Korivi, Krachak anndaek, Kurpa, Kurpah, Masamathi, Mool-taga, Myauk-ngo, Nekota, Panikusum, Satwi, Tampui munyit

Synonyms

Aglaia chartacea Kosterm.; Anomosanthes longifolia (Hiern) Pierre; Hemigyrosa longifolia Hiern; Lepisanthes acutissima Radlk.; Lepisanthes angustifolia Blume; Lepisanthes appendiculata (Hook.f.) Symington; Lepisanthes blumeana Koord. & Valet.; Lepisanthes cuneata Hiern; Lepisanthes eriolepis Radlk.; Lepisanthes kunstleri King; Lepisanthes longifolia Hiern; Lepisanthes macrocarpa Radlk.; Lepisanthes montana Blume; Lepisanthes schizolepis Radlk.; Lepisanthes schizolepis forma genuina Radlk.; Lepisanthes scortechinii King; Lepisanthes sessiflora Blume; Lepisanthes viridis Radlk.; Ostodes appendiculata Hook.f.; Sapindus tetraphylla Vahl;