Rukam
Flacourtia rukam

Family: Salicaceae

What it is like

A tree reaching a height of 5-20 m and about 30 cm across the trunk. It can be 40 m tall with a trunk 1 m across. The old branches are usually crooked with furrows along them. The leaves are 5 to 15 cm long and 4-7 cm wide and pointed at the tip. Young leaves are reddish brown and leaves are shiny on top. The young stems are very rough. The flowers are very small and occur in greenish yellow clusters in axils of leaves. They occur with separate sexes in separate flowers. The fruit is a flattened berry with soft juicy flesh and a red colour. The trunk in young trees has many simple spines. The leaf size and shape varies a lot.

There are about 17 Flacourtia species. Also put in the Flacourtiaceae family.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in humid tropical conditions. It can grow in shade as well as full sun. They occur in Benguet to the southern parts of the islands of the Philippines. Trees occur in tall lowland rainforest. They probably grow from sea level up to about 1600 m in Papua New Guinea. In Samoa it grows from 50 to 550 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Chuuk, Cook Islands, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, Sarawak, SE Asia (country/location of origin), Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis and Futuna, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw when ripe. The fruit are rolled between the hands to reduce the astringency. It can be sour and is used for jam, sauce or pickles. The young leaves and shoots are edible. The young roots are edible.

In Papua New Guinea, trees occur but are not very common in coastal areas. It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Trees are mostly self sown. They grow from seed. Seed germinate quickly and easily. Trees can be grown from seed or root suckers. Root suckers are commonly produced. Fruit are made sweeter by rubbing them after harvest. Trees can also be budded or grafted. Trees are spaced 8-12 m apart.

Fruiting is seasonal. There can be several flowering and fruiting flushes during the year. Fruit are often produced about September to November in the southern hemisphere. Fruit take 14 weeks to ripen.

Its other names

Local names

Aganas, Amaiit, Bitongol, Chemechong, Filimoto, Firmoto, Ganda rukem, Hong quan, Indian prune, Kalominga, Kaluminga, Ken, Khrop-dong, Klang tatah kutang, Kupa landak, Meptengkek, Mung guan ru'ung, Pohon rukem jambon, Rokam, Rukam bubur, Rukam gajah, Rukam manis, Rukem, Ta khop thai, Takho-thai, Tepetatah, Ukam

Synonyms

Flacourtia edulis Griff.; Flacourtia euphlebia Merr.; Flacourtia megaphylla Ridl.; Flacourtia peninsula Elm.; Flacourtia rukam var. domestica Ridl.; Flacourtia rukam var. erythrocarpa Ridl.; Flacourtia rukam var. micronesica Fosberg & Sachet; Flacourtia rukam var. myriantha Merr.; Flacourtia sulcata Elm.; Hisingera grandifolia Turcz.;