Wild kepel tree
Stelechocarpus cauliflorus

Family: Annonaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-22 m tall. The trunk can be 40 cm across. The bark is black and smooth. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped and 15-40 cm long by 10-20 cm wide. They are smooth and glossy on both surfaces and taper to the ends. The flowers are 9 mm long and pink to brown. They are produced on the stems. The female flowers are on the younger parts of the branches. The fruit is oval and like a berry. It is 4 cm long. The flesh is yellowish and sweet when ripe. The fruit are in groups on lumps on the stems. There are 4-6 seeds in 2 rows. They are oval and slightly 4 angled.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mixed forests on hillsides up to 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon kepel hutan

Synonyms

Sageraea cauliflora Scheff.; Sageraea nitida (King) Finet & Gagnep.; Stelechocarpus longipes Craib; Stelechocarpus nitidus King; Stelechocarpus schefferi Boerl. [Illegitimate];