Thin Leafed Coondoo
Planchonella chartacea

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree up to 12-20 m high. It spreads 4-10 m wide. The leaves are simple and 4-19 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. They can be broadly oval or spoon shaped. They are thin and papery. The leaves are dark green and shiny above and dull underneath. The broken stems produce milky latex. The flowers are 0.5 cm long and cream-green. They occur in clusters of 4-7 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are 15-22 mm long by 5-15 mm wide. They hang singly or in clusters in the axils of leaves. As the fruit ripens it turns from red to black. There are 2-5 seeds and these are 9-20 mm long by 3-7 mm wide. The fruit is edible.

There are about 100 Planchonella species. They are mostly in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical rainforest. They need good drainage. It needs good light and fertile soil. It grows from sea level to 750 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Asia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seed.

It is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Nyatoh tree, Dugulla

Synonyms

Achras chartaceae F. Muell. ex Benth.; Beccariella chartacea (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Aubrev.; Chrysophyllum curtisii King & Gamble; Lucuma discolor Baill.; Planchonella longgensis (Burck) Pierre; Planchonella littoralis (Ridl.) H. J. Lam. Pouteria chartacea (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Baehni; Pouteria discolor (Baill.) Baehni; Pouteria linggensis (Burck) Baehni; Sersalisia chartacea (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Domin; Sideroxylon albocostatum K. Krause; Sideroxylon chartaceum (F. Muell. ex Benth.) Baehni Sideroxylon linggense Burck; Sideroxylon littorale Ridl.; Sideroxylon pittosporifolium Elmer;