The great gora tree, God's crown tree
Phaleria macrocarpa

Family: Thymelaeaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 6-18 m tall. The young branches are hollow. The leaves are narrowly oval and 10-25 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. They are smooth, opposite and papery. There are 6-11 pairs of veins. The flowering shoots are at the ends of branches and in the axils of leaves or on the trunks. There can be 2-8 flowers in a group. The flowers are 2-4 cm long. The fruit is about 3-5 cm long by 3-4 cm across and oval. The fruit are green and turn red when ripe. The seeds are 1.5 cm long by 1.3 cm wide.

It is an anti-oxidant and popular as medicine. It has been shown to have a range of medicinal benefits.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows from sea level to about 550 m and occasionally to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The fruit is poisonous unless processed and then probably only as medicine.

Edible parts

Fruit, caution

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Plants produce fruit about one year after planting.

Its other names

Local names

Mahkota dewa, Pau, Pohon gora agung, Pohon mahkota dewa

Synonyms

Phaleria papuana Warb. ex K. Schum. & Lauterb.;