Helicia obovatifolia
Merr. et Chun
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
gbif· cc0
President and Fellows of Harvard College
Description
An evergreen tree. It grows 20 m high. The trunk is 40 cm across. The leaves and flowers have a rusty coating. The leaves are oval and 7-28 cm long by 4-15 cm wide. They are leathery. The base is wedge shaped and there can be teeth along the edge. The fruit are oval and purple to black. They are 3-5 cm long by 2-4 cm wide.
Edible Uses
The seeds are rich in starch and can be used for food and alcohol production.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are rich in starch. It can be used for food and for alcohol production. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Known Hazards
Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical evergreen forests. It grows on hills below 1,000 m altitude. It grows on wet soil.
Where It Grows
Asia, China, Indochina, SE Asia, Vietnam,
Production
In southern China it flowers in June to October and fruit in October to December.
Notes
There are about 90 Helicia species mostly in SE Asia with some in N Australia.
Also Known As
Ma sua la trung nguoc
References (3)
- Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 5
- Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, 1996, Vietnam Forest Trees. Agriculture Publishing House p 592
- Sunyatsenia 5:45. 1940
