Rusty sapindus
Lepisanthes rubiginosa

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A shrub 1-3 m tall. It can grow to 10 m tall. It can spread 1-2 m wide. Trunks can occasionally be 35 cm across. The young branches are slightly grooved. They are covered with brown hairs. The leaves are 10-30 cm long and divided. There are 4-18 leaflets. These are 3-24 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are oval or oblong and largest towards the tip. They are dark green and leathery. There are brown hairs on both surfaces. The flower panicle is 10-35 cm long and it has many branches. The flowers are 0.6 cm across. They are white. The fruit is a capsule. The fruit are small and purple. They grow in clusters.

There are 24-40 Lepisanthes species. They are mostly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in secondary forest. On thin, poor soils it is only a shrub. In Indonesia it grows up to 1200 m altitude. It grows in monsoonal forest. It suits tropical and warm subtropical locations. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. It is the aril or layer around the seed which is eaten. The fruit are made into jams and syrups. The young leaves are eaten as a vegetable.

Fruit are eaten especially by children. The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

In NE Thailand fruit are ripe April to August. In NE India May to June.

Its other names

Local names

Abigran, Anga-banga, Bak huat kaa, Bak-wa, Baraharina, Borobogan, Chunlous, Chunluhs donkay, Chyabu, Chyabu-nui, Damai, Huat lao, Ishi rashi, Jalkusum, Kamsam, Kasam, Katilayu, Kelat jantan, Kelat layu hutan, Kelat layu laut, Kelayu, Kilayu, Kinpadi, Klayu, Korali, Kundurai, Lipupudsu, Ma huad, Mak houat, Mangyi, Manipangam, Menterajam, Mertajam, Muktimoya, Nanga, Nunga, Rambutan hutan, Ritha, Rubiharina, Seik-chi-hpo, Sona mahangam, Suang rason, Terajam, Terajang, Tilayu, Tumlos, Undurugu, Zich tai

Synonyms

Erioglossum edule Blume; Erioglossum edule var. album Blume; Erioglossum edule var. corymbosum Tiejsm.; Erioglossum edule var. fraxinifolia (DC) Blume; Erioglossum edule var. subcorymbosum Blume; Erioglossum rubiginosa Roxb.; Erioglossum rubiginosum (Roxburgh) Blume; Lepisanthes hirta Ridley; Moulinsia rubiginosa (Roxb.) G. Don; Sapindus edulis Blume; Sapindus fraxinifolia DC.; Sapindus rubiginosa Roxb.; Uitenia edulis (Blume) Steud.;