Moluccan Rengas
Semecarpus forstenii

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree 3-10 m tall. It can grow to 27 m high. The trunk can be 40 cm across. The leaves are alternate and oblong 16-50 x 7-11 cm. The leaf stalk is 1-4 cm long. The sap of the tree can damage the skin. The flowers are 2.5 mm across. They are white and in groups. The fruit are 8 mm long and orange and fleshy.

Collected on Makira San Cristobel by Brass. Specimen in Harvard herbarium.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest up to 1,200 m above sea level. It is often in swamps.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

The fleshy fruit stalk is eaten. CAUTION The sap of the tree can badly damage the skin.

Edible parts

Fruit stalk

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon rengas maluku

Synonyms

Cassuvium silvestre; Semecarpus congestiflora K. Schum & Lauterbach; Semecarpus decipiens Merr. & Perry; Semecarpus laxiflora K. Schum.; Semecarpus roxburghii Bl.; Semecarpus scabrida K. Schum.; Semecarpus uncata Slis;