Semecarpus cuneiformis
Blanco
Ligas
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Han-Ting Liu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Han-Ting Liu
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) 艸目伊, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaSemecarpus cuneiformis is a tree in the cashew and sumac family Anacardiaceae. The specific epithet cuneiformis is from the Latin meaning 'wedge-shaped', referring to the leaf base.
Description
A large tree. It grows 4-20 m tall. The leaves are crowded at the ends of the branches. The leaves are rounded or somewhat pointed at the tip and pointed at the base. The flowers are white and carried in compound flower clusters that are longer than the leaves. The fruit are like cashew but smaller. The fruit has a stone and is carried on a purple stalk.
Edible Uses
The fruit is eaten in the same manner as cashew.
Traditional Uses
The fruit is eaten like cashew.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The oil obtained from the pericarp is escharotic and caustic. It is sometimes applied externally in the treatment of certain indolent ulcers.
Known Hazards
The shell surrounding the seed is likely to contain a strongly irritant substance. If this is the same as for the related cashew nut, then it will be destroyed by roasting.
Distribution
A tropical plant. They are common in dry areas and secondary forest from Luzon in the Philippines. They are not recorded from Mindanao.
Where It Grows
Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan,
References (4)
- Brown, W.H., 1920, Wild Food Plants of the Philippines. Bureau of Forestry Bulletin No. 21 Manila. p 98
- Kuo, W. H. J., (Ed.) Taiwan's Ethnobotanical Database (1900-2000), http://tk.agron.ntu.edu.tw/ethnobot/DB1.htm
- Monsalud, M.R., Tongacan, A.L., Lopez, F.R., & Lagrimas, M.Q., 1966, Edible Wild Plants in Philippine Forests. Philippine Journal of Science. p 440
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
