Sarcolobus globosus
Family: Apocynaceae
What it is like
A small climbing shrub. The stem is tough and woody. It has a thick fleshy rootstock. The leaves are simple and opposite. They are 3-6 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are small and starry. They are crowded in groups in the axils of leaves. The fruit are brown follicles 4-5 cm across. There are many flattened seeds.
There are 14 Sarcolobus species. The seeds are used to poison animals.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows along the edge of the mangrove swamp.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand
How it is used for food
CAUTION: The plant is poisonous without proper treatment. The fruit are made into jam. They are taken green, cut open and the young seeds removed. Then they are pickled to remove the latex and washed and placed in salt water for 3 days. They are then boiled with sugar. They are boiled without sugar if they are to be eaten with curry. The leaves are also eaten with curry.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, caution
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Akar pelir kambing, Akar batu pelir kambing, Akar kambing-kambing, Banok, Baoli-lata, Baoli-phal, Buah pitis, Pitis-pitis