Pometia pinnata fo. glabra

Forst., (Bl.) Jacobs

Fijian longan, Malugai

Sapindaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 1,418 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

The Pometia pinnata is a tropical hardwood tree species that is widespread in the Pacific and Southeast Asian regions. The tree species has many common names, including matoa, tava (in Samoa and Tonga), taun tree, Island lychee and Pacific lychee. The species comes from the Sapindaceae family and comes from the clades of Tracheophytes, Angiosperms, and the order Sapindales.

Description

A large tree with a crooked irregular stem. The leaves are large and alternate. They have 4 to 9 pairs of leaflets. The flower arrangement is at the ends of branches and is profuse. The flowers are small and yellowish white. The fruit is round 3 cm across and hard and brittle. The skin of the ripe fruit peels off like a mandarin. The edible part is a clear layer around the seed, like in a rambutan.

Edible Uses

The fleshy translucent layer (aril) around the seed is eaten raw.

Traditional Uses

The fleshy portion around the seed is eaten raw. CAUTION The edible form of ton must be chosen. The actual seeds have been reported to be poisonous.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Known Hazards

The edible form must be chosen carefully; the actual seeds have been reported to be poisonous.

Distribution

A tropical plant. They are widely scattered throughout the Philippines. The broadleafed type is found along creeks in deep ravines while the narrow type is on forested ridges. It occurs in lowland and lower montane forest. They occur from sea level to 700 m altitude. (The inedible kind occurs on the ridges and is the more useful timber tree.)

Where It Grows

Asia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia,

Cultivation

Trees mostly grow wild but they are also planted from nuts after the flesh is eaten. They are often transplanted.

Production

Fruit production is seasonal. The season is very short and is between November and March.

References (2)

Monsalud, M.R., Tongacan, A.L., Lopez, F.R., & Lagrimas, M.Q., 1966, Edible Wild Plants in Philippine Forests. Philippine Journal of Science. p 542 (As Pometia pinnata fo. glabra)
Plants of Papua New Guinea LAE herbarium record