Otophora fruticosa

(Roxb.) Blume.

Sapindaceae Edible: Fruit, Seeds

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Description

A shrub with tough and smooth twigs. The leaves are alternate, smooth and papery. They have 3 to 4 divisions of leaflets evenly arranged. The leaflets are much paler beneath and smooth and shiny. They have a blunt point and are entire. They are rigid at the base with a pair of rounded green leaflets. The flower arrangement is both in the axils of leaves and at the ends and there are many flowers. The fruit are red when mature.

Edible Uses

The seeds are toasted and eaten.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are toasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. They are widely scattered in areas of shrub at low elevations throughout the Philippines.

Where It Grows

Asia, Malaysia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia,

Also Known As

Lanau, Balingasan, Lunau, Balinaunau, Pipiyasuton

References (5)

Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1641
Coronel, R.E., 1982, Fruit Collections in the Philippines. IBPGR Newsletter p 10
Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 70
Monsalud, M.R., Tongacan, A.L., Lopez, F.R., & Lagrimas, M.Q., 1966, Edible Wild Plants in Philippine Forests. Philippine Journal of Science. p 540
Rumphia 3:142. 1847