Lolly berry, Snotty Gobbles, Mangrove vine
Salacia chinensis

Family: Celastraceae

What it is like

It is a woody climber. The small twigs are slender. New green shoots are flattened. The leaves are oval and produced opposite one another. They are leathery and dark green. They are 10-18 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. The veins in the leaf curve towards the leaf edge. The leaf stalk is 1 cm long. The flowers are greenish and small. They are produced singly or in clusters. They develop below the leaves on leafless twigs from small pads. The fruit is oval orange-red and 3 cm across. The fruit are edible. Fruit have one seed inside.

Also put in the family Hippocrateaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. It needs a well-drained soils in a sunny position. In southern China it grows in forests below 100-700 m above sea level. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The flesh of the fruit are eaten. They are sweet. They are peeled.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown fresh.

In Australia, flowers are produced from August to October and fruit are ripe March to April. They can also produce throughout the year.

Its other names

Local names

Akan pelanduk, Allitiga, Bu, Bwe-thein, Cherukuranti, Chinese salacia, Chota boroi, Dimal, Drauwa, Ingli, Kajipot, Lum nok, Madhu phal, Mata kantjil, Mata kuching hutan, Matang-ulang, Matom kai, Modhuphal, Nisul-bondi, Penghorng, Rakiat kechil, Saptrangi, Virveay, Wole seroso

Synonyms

Salacia latifolia Wall. ex M. Laws.; Salacia prinoides (Willd.) DC.; Tontelea prinoides Willd.;