Tanalika
Allophylus serratus

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It grows 3 m high and spreads 2 m wide. The stem is erect and the branches are straggling. The leaves are alternate and have 3 oval leaflets. The leaves are 10 cm long. The flowers are small and in slender spikes. The fruit are oval berries.

There are 190-200 Allophyllus species. Some say there is just one widely variable species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It does best in wet, swampy, peaty soils. It needs a protected and partly shaded position. It is sensitive to frost and drought. It occurs in the Western Ghats in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Aril, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

In southern India plants fruit July to October.

Its other names

Local names

Khandakoli, Tanalikoe korra chettu

Synonyms

Allophyllus cobbe f. serratus Hiern; Schmidelia serrata DC.;