Reutealis trisperma

Reutealis trisperma is a fast-growing evergreen tree reaching 12 m tall with equal spread. It thrives in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils that are well-drained, tolerating mildly acidic to basic pH. The tree requires full sun and prefers moist conditions, making it suitable for UK zone 10 and warmer.

Description

A tree. It grows 15 m tall. The trunk is 35 cm across. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and 12-14 cm long by 12-13 cm wide. There are hairs on the veins underneath. Plants are separately male and female. The fruit is a flattened capsules 4-5 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. It has 3 sides.

Edible Uses

An oil is obtained from the seed and is used medicinally, but no edible uses have been identified.

Traditional Uses

CAUTION: The seed is poisonous. It causes burning of the throat and mouth. It is eaten like Candle nut. It obviously needs processing.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The oil — similar to tung oil from Aleurites spp. — is used externally to treat parasitic skin diseases, burns, scalds, and wounds. The sap of the bark is used to cure scurf of the head.

Known Hazards

The fruit is poisonous. The kernels, when fresh, have a pleasant nutty flavour, but leave a burning sensation in mouth, throat, oesophagus and stomach ; even a part of one nut may cause either violent vomiting within half an hour or else a terrific diarrhoea, beginning within a few hours after eating and lasting from 12 - 24 hours.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical rainforests at low to medium altitudes.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines*, SE Asia, West Indies,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Propagation

Seed sown fresh can achieve a germination rate of 98% within 19 days. Seedlings can reach 54 cm in height within 12 months.

Other Uses

A high-quality, quick-drying oil is extracted from the seed; the seeds contain 56% oil (bagilumbang oil). It is used in the production of paints, varnishes, soaps, and for coating boats, and also as a fuel oil. The oil was formerly used in the Philippines to produce a weak soap valued by sailors for its ability to lather in sea water. It also acts as an effective insecticide. The oil is of best quality when pressed from fresh seeds and deteriorates unless stored in hermetically sealed containers. Removing the shells before pressing yields a significantly higher quality oil than crushing whole seeds. The seed cake left after oil extraction makes a good fertilizer. Special uses: none listed.

Production

In southern China plants flower in April and fruit in October.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are 2-5 Aleurites species. The seed produces an oil.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Balukanad, Lumpang banucalag, Pohon kemiri sunan

References (10)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 26 (As Aleurites trisperma)
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 18 (As Aleurites trisperma)
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 97 (As Aleurites trisperma)
• Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 49 (As Aleurites trisperma)
• Miguel, E., et al, 1989, A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba. Kulturpflanze 37. 1989, 211-357 (As Aleurites trisperma)

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