Calophyllum soulattri

Calophyllum soulattri is a species of flowering plant in the Calophyllaceae family. It is found in the Northern Territory of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is considered one of the best bintangor timber species.

Description

A tree up to 26 m high. The stems have white to yellow latex. The trunk is 30-70 cm across. The leaves are opposite and simple. They are 7-29 cm long by 2-10 cm wide. The flowers are 1 cm across. They are white. There are 7-20 flowers in a cluster. The fruit are dark bluish black. They are 1 cm across.

Edible Uses

Fruit - sour. The somewhat sour fruits can be eaten, but if eaten in excess they cause severe stomach-ache and diarrhoea. The more or less spherical fruit is up to 16mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are sour but can be eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the root is rubbed on to affected areas in order to alleviate rheumatic pain. Fresh bark from the shoots is used as medicine for women who have just given birth. The oil obtained from the seed is used externally in the treatment of rheumatism and skin infections. Injected into the muscles, the refined oil relieves the pain in leprosy.

Known Hazards

The latex in the plant has been used to poison dogs.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest. It occurs at 465 m altitude. It grows between sea level and 1220 m altitude. It does best in well drained places.

Where It Grows

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Central America, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nicobar, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Other Uses

Oil can be extracted from the seeds by heating them either cut and with water or finely crushed. The oil contains resin; the purified oil contains approximately 49.7% oleic acid, 23.8% linoleic acid, 16.8% palmitic acid, and 9.7% stearic acid. It is used in soap making and is important as an illuminant. In parts of Oceania the oil is used to anoint the body, as either a substitute for, or a pleasant-smelling additive to, coconut oil. Mixed with the resin of Vateria spp, the oil is used for caulking boats. The leaves are reported to make a durable thatch. The light-red wood is cross-grained, moderately hard, durable, elastic, easily worked. The wood is not very durable. It is used for masts, spars, construction and planking.

Notes

There are about 187-200 Calophyllum species. They are evergreen trees of the tropics.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bangkit, Bintagor, Bitangoor boonot, Cong trang, Dakartalada, Lalchuni, Malang-malang, Membaloong, Mintak, Pampiyaka, Pan-taga, Pohon bintangur sulatri, Tharapi

References (15)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 98
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 74
• Chai, P. P. K. (Ed), et al, 2000, A checklist of Flora, Fauna, Food and Medicinal Plants. Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary, Sarawak. Forestry Malaysia & ITTO. p 166
• Chaudhury, R.H.N., et al, 1980, Ethnobotanical Uses of Herbaria - 2. J. Econ, Tax Bot Vol 1 p 166 (As Calophyllum spectabile)
• Conn, B.J., (Ed.) 1995, Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New Guinea. Vol 3. Melbourne University Press. p 103

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