Santol
Sandoricum koetjape

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It loses its leaves. It grows up to about 25-50 m high. It is 80 cm across the trunk. It can have buttresses 3 m tall. Branches normally develop after 7-10 m. The crown is dense and dark green. The leaves are alternate and have 3 leaflets. The leaves are 18-40 cm long. The leaflets are hairy. They are pointed at the tip and more rounded at the base. They are 10 to 25 cm long. The end leaflet is the largest. The flowering cluster is 2.5-24 cm long. The flowers are greenish yellow and about 1 cm long. They occur in considerable numbers in compound flower clusters. The fruit are rounded and 4 to 6 cm across. They cluster like grapes. The fruit have one stone. They are yellowish or red with a thick outer covering. The flesh of the fruit is white, juicy and allows light through. The seeds are large. The pulp of the fruit is edible.

There are 5 Sandoricum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It suits the hot, wet tropical lowlands. It is native to SE Asia. It can withstand light frosts. It needs light. They occur from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao in the Philippines and are very common both wild and cultivated. It grows in forests up to 600 m above sea level. It grows in sandy and clay soils.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia (country/location of origin), Central America, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guam, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos (country/location of origin), Malaysia (country/location of origin), Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or made into preserves. The skin can be eaten. Fruit are made into alcoholic beverages. This is done by fermenting them with rice. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The leaves are eaten. The fruit are eaten. The seeds are removed and the skin taken off. They are then boiled and later candied with sugar. They can be made into jams, jellies, and marmalades.

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed, air-layering or budding. They can also be grafted.

It is fast growing. Fruit mature in about 120 days. In NE Thailand fruit are available March to April.

Its other names

Local names

Bampenh riech, Bua apo, Buh tul, Donka, Katawn, Katon, Kecapi, Kelampu, Kalempu bukit, Kentuat, Kompinhreach, Kra-thon, Lalalam, Ma tong, Mak tong, Pohon kecapi, Red santol, Santol, Santul, Satawn, Saton, Sau tia, Sayai, Sentol, Sentul, Setui, Seva-manu, Sevai, Sinlol, Sintol, Terapu, Thitto, Visa yan

Synonyms

Azedarach edulis Noronha; Melia koetjape Burm.f.; Sandoricum domesticum Rumph.; Sandoricum glaberrimum Hassk.; Sandoricum harmandianum Pierre ex Laness; Sandoricum harmandii Pierre; Sandoricum harmsianum Perkins; Sandoricum indicum Cav.; Sandoricum indicum var. velutinum Hiern; Sandoricum indicum var. conchinchinense Pierre; Sandoricum ledermannii Harms; Sandoricum maingayi Hiern; Sandoricum maingayi var. quadripetalum C. DC.; Sandoricum nervosum Blume; Sandoricum nervosum (Vahl) M. Roem.; Sandoricum radiatum King; Sandoricum serratum G. Don; Sandoricum ternatum Blanco; Sandoricum venosum (Spreng.) M. Roem.; Sandoricum vidalii Merr.; Trichilia nervosa Vahl; Trichilia nervosa Spreng.;