Choerospondias axillaris

Description

A tree that loses its leaves. It is 15-30 m high and has a trunk 40-50 cm across. The young branches are stout. They are 5 mm across. The small branches are purple brown in colour. The leaves are alternate. They are compound made up of pairs of leaflets with one leaflet at the end. The leaves are 25-40 cm long. The leaflets are in 5-13 pairs and 10 cm long by 3-3.5 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The male and female flowers occur on separate trees. The male flowers are in loose irregular arrangements either at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves. They are 15-20 cm long. The female flowers occur singly or in 2's or 3's in the axils of leaves. The flowers are reddish-purple. The fruit is fleshy and has 5 stones inside. The fruit is 3 cm across and is yellow.

Edible Uses

The ripe fruit is eaten raw and used for wine, candy, jam, and pickles; half-ripe fruit are preferred for pickles and the pulp is dried for marmalade or jam. Young leaves are eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The ripe fruit can be eaten raw and used for wine production. The fruit are used for candy, jam and pickles. It is the half ripe fruit that are used for pickles. The fruit pulp is dried to make marmalade or jams. The young leaves are eaten raw.

Medicinal Uses

No medicinal uses mentioned in available data.

Distribution

A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in Northern Vietnam and below 600 m altitude. It is mostly on deep, wet red soils. It grows between 600-2000 m altitude in southern Yunnan. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds. They can also be grown by cuttings and budding.

Other Uses

The fibrous bark can be used for making rope. The greyish-white wood is soft with a marked silver grain. It is used as a light construction timber, for making tea chests and general furniture. The wood is used for fuel. The seed shells are used as a fuel in brick kilns. The tree is often used as a fruit tree in reaforestation projects. The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats.

Production

In Thailand plants flower in December to February and fruit March to May.

Other Information

It is sold in markets. The fruit are exported. It is a cultivated food plant.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Amali, Biu la yang, Del-cline, Hamoi-tenga, Ju-ru-ra, Kalah, Khamoli-sali, Labshi, Lapsee, Lapsi, Lat xoan, Lobsi, Maimeo, Makok nang, Mamue, Manang, Mang men, Mu, Nan-suan-zao, Njing-chi, Nying sho sha, Pako chi, Phindruwa, Pindumsi, Pintupsi, Pohon lapsi, Saa-lee-puu, Seesiat thet, Silot-kung, Siolt-kung, Sning-zho-sha, Southern sour jujube, Thaisudi-khasiba, Wu yan liu tong, Xoan nhur, Xuyen coc

References (40)

• Aiguo, C. & Zhiling, D., 2001, Managing Agricultural Resources for Biodiversity Conservation. Case Study Yunnan, Southwest China. Environment Liaison Center International. p 40
• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2502 (As Poupartia axillaris)
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 121
• Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 9:20, t. 25. 1901 (As Poupartia axillaris)
• Ann. Bot. (London) ser. 2, 1:254, in note; Bull. Misc.Inform. 1937:407. 1937

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