Maountain lac tree
Guioa pleuropteris

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It can grow up to 30 m tall. The trunk can be 20-70 cm across. The bark is dark brown. The leaves have 2-5 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are unequal at the base. The flowering stalks are in the axils of leaves towards the end of branches. The fruit are 1-2 cm long by 1-2.5 cm wide.

There are about 80 Guioa species. They are mostly in the Asian tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest near 500-700 m altitude. It can grow up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. It is the very thin fleshy layer around the seed that is eaten. CAUTION: The seeds are poisonous.

Edible parts

Fruit, aril

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bunsikag Tagb, Kelentit nyamok, Medang puteh, Pena-pena, Pohon tanggianuk, Pongro phnim, Senyamok, Tet ling

Synonyms

Cupania pleuropteris Blume; Guioa lasiothyrsa Radlk.; Guioa subapiculata Radlk.;