Xerospermum noronhianum

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A tree. It can be 30 m high. The trunk can be 80 cm across. There are sometimes buttresses. The twigs have small hairs at the beginning. The leaves are alternate and compound. The leaflets are usually oval. Leaves are 50 cm long by 30 cm wide. The flowers are white to yellow and 4 mm across. They are in panicles. The flowering cluster is 25 cm long. The fruit has a swollen stalk. The fruit has lobes. The fruit is 1.7-5 cm long by 1.2-5 cm wide. The seeds have a fleshy layer or aril around them. It is yellow.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in a range of soils and forests usually up to 300 m but it can be higher. It is mostly on hillsides and alluvial sites. It grows on sandy and clay soils. It grows in forests up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fleshy layer around the seeds is eaten.

Edible parts

Seeds coat, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Balong ayam, Bonlichu, Bura, Buru-buphang, Dieng-soh-moni-ar-shree, Geresek hitam, Gigi buntal, Ilat, Kaw hia, Khoirao, Khuranchi, Kikir buntal, Kyetmauk-thein, Mak-hkaw-mi, Mamangas, Mean angkarm, Rambutan pacat, Rambutan pachat, Resat, Seman, Semayap, Shanpi, Tangguih pachat, Taung-kyetmauk, Thit-nyo, Tudun biawak

Synonyms

Arytera xerocarpa (Blume) Adelb.; Cupania glabrata Kurz; Euphoria noronhiana Blume; Euphoria xerocarpa Blume; Nephelium muricatum Griff.; Nephelium noronhianum (Blume) Cambess.; Nephelium xerocarpum (Blume) Cambess.; Sapindus glabratus Wall.; Xerospermum brachyphyllum Radlk.; Xerospermum cylindrocarpum Radlk.; Xerospermum echinulatum Radlk.; Xerospermum fallax Radlk.; Xerospermum glabratum Radlk.; Xerospermum intermedium Radlk.; Xerospermum lanceolatum Radlk.; Xerospermum muricatum Radlk.; Xerospermum testudineum Radlk.; Xerospermum wallichii King; Xerospermum xanthophyllum Radlk.;