Mousedeer's rubber tree
Balakata baccata

Family: Euphorbiaceae

What it is like

A large evergreen tree. It grows 30 m tall. The trunk is 60 cm across. The young branches are usually in rings. The leaves are oval and 8-22 cm long by 4-11 cm wide. They are pale underneath. The fruit are black. They have 1 or 2 seeds.

There are about 100 Sapium species. Most are tropical.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forests and near streams between 600-700 m above sea level. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are mealy, sweet and sometimes eaten as a flavouring. The young fruit are boiled and eaten as a vegetable. The ripe fruit are sweet.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

In Nagaland fruit are available September to November.

Its other names

Local names

Adamsali, Ankrataruwa, Bedi, Billa, Boloch, Budi, Dieng-ja-long-ehr, Kayu rulus, Lal kanijal, Larrna, Lawa, Lelun, Ludahi, Ludai, Mamas-mamas, Mayang, Memaya, Metong, Oohu, Pelandok, Pohon karet kancil, Pudlikat, Puligota, Samperai, Samsim, Seleng, Shigum, Thing-bok-pui, Thing-zawk-pui, Tobu

Synonyms

Excoecaria baccata (Roxb.) Mull.Arg.; Sapium baccatum Roxb.; Stillingia baccata (Roxb.) Baill.; and others