White pelong tree
Pentaspadon motleyi

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It can be 15-50 m high. The trunk can be 70-80 cm across. The bark is smooth and light brown. The bark can be cracked along its length and flake off irregularly. It has buttresses which can be high and wide. The leaves are made up of 4-5 pairs of leaflets. These are thin and rough and oblong. They can be 6-13 cm long and 2-6 cm wide or larger. The leaf tapers towards the tip. Twigs and new growth are red. The flower panicles are up to 31 cm long. The flowers are cream coloured. The fruit can be 3-5 cm long by 2-3 cm across. They have a rough surface. The seed is oval and 2-4 cm long by 1-2 cm across. Black fruit (fallen on ground). Edible fruit.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in lowland rainforest. It often occurs in places that are flooded at times during the year. It is mostly from sea level to 75 m altitude but occasionally grows up to 300 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Sarawak, SE Asia, Solomon Islands

How it is used for food

Seeds are eaten fresh or roasted. The oil from the seeds is squeezed over food.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

It grows rapidly in the early stages. Flowering is March to December and fruiting from January to December.

Its other names

Local names

Empelanyau, Empit, Pelajau, Pelangau, Plajau

Synonyms

Nothoprotium sumatranum Miq.; Pentaspadon minutiflora B.L. Burtt.; Pentaspadon moszkowskii Laut.; Pentaspadon officinalis Holmes ex King; Rhus novoguineensis Laut.;