Schleichera oleosa

Schleichera oleosa is a deciduous tree growing to 30 m in height and 25 m in spread at a slow rate. Hardy to UK zone 10, it is not self-fertile. It grows in light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, including very acidic soils, across mildly acidic to mildly alkaline pH ranges. It tolerates semi-shade to full sun and adapts to dry or moist soil.

Description

A tree 15-25 m tall. It keeps its leaves most of the year. The bark is grey and flaky. The bark is reddish brown inside. The leaves have stalks and are divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are in 2-4 pairs. They have short leaflets. They are 6-26 cm long by 3-9 cm wide. They are oblong. New leaves are reddish. The flowers have short stalks. They are yellowish. They occur in side stalks with equal stalk length flowers along it. These appear with new purple leaves. Flowers can be male or of both sexes. The fruit is oval and green when ripe. They are 2 cm long and 1.5 cm across. The fruit have blunt prickles. There are 1-2 oily seeds.

Edible Uses

Young leaves and shoots can be eaten raw, cooked in soups, or steamed and served with rice. Ripe fruit is eaten raw and has a pleasantly acid flavour; unripe fruits are pickled. The fruit is a broadly ovoid to subglobular berry measuring 15–25mm x 10–20mm. An oil extracted from the seed, known as macassar oil, is sometimes used for culinary purposes, but it contains cyanogenic compounds that may cause giddiness and must be removed before the oil is safe for human consumption. The plant is considered a staple oil crop.

Traditional Uses

The fruit arillus is used to make some dishes acid. Seed oil is used for cooking. It needs to be carefully refined. It is then edible. The ripe fruit are eaten raw. Young fruit are pickled. The seeds are eaten raw or cooked. The young leaves and shoots are eaten raw. They are also used in soups or steamed and served with rice or fish.

Medicinal Uses

Powdered seeds are applied to wounds and ulcers of cattle to remove maggots. The bark is astringent and used against leprotic ruptures, skin inflammations, and ulcers; an infusion of the bark is taken against malaria. The bark contains about 10% tannin and the analgesic compound lupeol. The antitumor agents betulin and betulic acid have also been isolated from it. In traditional medicine, seed oil is applied externally to treat itching, acne, and other skin afflictions. Massaging the oil into the scalp is said to promote regrowth of hair lost through baldness. The fruit pulp is astringent and appetite-inducing.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits moist tropical regions. It grows in wet dense forests. In Nepal it grows up to 300 m altitude. In India they occur all over the country in mixed deciduous forests. In Indonesia it grows up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeasten India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, West Africa, West Timor,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed should be sown fresh. Seedlings do not transplant well. They can also be grown using root suckers.

Propagation

Sow seed direct into thoroughly prepared soil.

Other Uses

Seed oil, known as kusum oil, is a key component of true Macassar oil used in hairdressing, and is also used for lighting, in the batik industry, and as a cooling bath oil in southern India. The kernel oil content ranges from 59–72%; the oil is yellowish-brown and semi-solid, composed of oleic acid (52%), arachidic acid (20%), stearic acid (10%), and gadoleic acid (9%). The bark contains about 10% tannin and yields a dye. The heartwood is reddish to pinkish-brown, clearly demarcated from the sapwood. The wood is very hard, heavy, and strong — durable in water according to some reports, though not according to others. It cracks easily during seasoning and is difficult to saw, but can be planed to a smooth surface that takes a high, lasting polish. It is excellent for pestles, cartwheels, axles, ploughs, tool handles, and rollers for sugar mills and oil presses, and is also used in house construction, shipbuilding, and musical instruments. The wood makes good firewood and excellent charcoal, with an energy value of about 20,800 kJ/kg.

Production

Plants grow slowly. In India fruit are available May to July. Fruit can be stored for 4-5 days.

Other Information

The fruit are often sold in markets. It is a cultivated food plant.

Notes

There is only one Schleichera species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Ai-dak, Bak kawe, Baro, Baru, Botanga, Busi, Chendala, Gausam, Gyo, Jamoa, Jendala chakota, Joyna, Kaitxava, Karanchi, Khor, Kodalipulusa, Kohan, Kojub, Kok khosom, Kolama, Kon, Konji, Koon, Koosambi, Kosab, Kosam, Kosano, Koshimb, Kosum, Kosumb, Kosumba, Kula, Kusambi, Kusamo, Kussum, Kusum, Kusuma, Kusumb, Luk kawe, Maak kawe, Macassar oiltree, Madaka-pulusu, Mai-hkao, Mai-kyang, Mak ko som, Malay lactree, Mavita-vitiki, Peduman, Pong roa, Pongro, Pongror, Poovam, Poovanam, Poovathi, Posuku, Pulachi, Pulipoocha, Pulusura-marajati, Pumaratha, Pusku, Puvam, Puvathipuvam, Puvu, Raj-kusumo, Rusam, Sagade kendala, Sagade-pusuku, Sama, Swad, Swad kusum, Ta takror, Ta tok, Thakabti, Tomroos, Yun-ha

References (87)

• Acharya K. P. and Acharya, R., 2010, Eating from the Wild: Indigenous knowledge on wild edible plants in Parroha VDC of Rupandehi District, Central Nepal. International Journal of Social Forestry. 3(1):28-48
• Adema, Leenhouts, P. W., 1994, Sapindaceae, Flora Malesiana Ser 1 Vol 11 (3) p 728
• Ajesh, T. P., et al, 2012, Ethnobotanical Documentation of Wild Edible Fruits used by Muthuvan Tribes of Idukki, Kerala-India. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences 3(3): 479-487
• Allg. Naturgesch. 3(2):1341. 1841
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 557

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