Cubilia cubili

Cubilia cubili is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae. It is a tree native to northeastern Malesia, ranging from eastern Borneo to Sulawesi, the Philippines, and western Maluku. It is the sole species in genus Cubilia.

Description

A large tree. It grows up to 25-50 m high. The trunk is 75 cm across. There are buttresses 6 m high. The bark is smooth and reddish-brown. The leaves are compound with large leaflets which are smooth and pointed at both ends. There are 3-5 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets taper to the tip and are rounded at the base. They are 10-15 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They can be both larger and smaller. The flowers are small and borne on rather large flower arrangements. These are 30 cm long. The flowers are orange-brown. The fruit are oval and about 5 cm long. The fruit have lobes. These are 3-4 cm long by 2-2.5 cm wide. They are covered with very many pointed projections giving a warty appearance.

Edible Uses

The seeds or nuts are eaten raw, boiled, or roasted. The false aril (seed layer) is also eaten, and the leaves are used as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The seeds or nuts are eaten raw or cooked. They are boiled or roasted. The false aril or seed layer is eaten. The leaves are used as a vegetable.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The seeds contain 5.2% protein, 1.92% fat, 23.13% starch, and 18.83% carbohydrates.

Distribution

A tropical plant. They occur from Luzon to Mindanao in primary forests at low altitudes in the Philippines. In Indonesia it grows up to 600 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Other Uses

The timber is useful.

Notes

There is only one Cubilia species. The seeds are 5.2% protein, 1.92% fat, 23.13% starch, and 18.83% carbohydrates.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Amasi, Bak-sian, Kamesi raindang, Pohon saninten sabrang

References (16)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 2608 (As Cubilia blancoi)
• Brown, W.H., 1920, Wild Food Plants of the Philippines. Bureau of Forestry Bulletin No. 21 Manila. p 100 (As Cubilia blancoi)
• Coronel, R.E., 1982, Fruit Collections in the Philippines. IBPGR Newsletter p 6 (As Cubilia blancoi)
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 224 (As Cubilia blancoi)
• Leenhouts, P. W., 1994, Cubilia, Flora Malesiana Ser 1 Vol 11 p 491

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