Baccaurea trigonocarpa

Merr.

PhyllanthaceaeFruit

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President and Fellows of Harvard College

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit

Although we have no specific record of edibility for this species, the fruits of all members of this genus are said to be edible, with a flavour that can be acid to sweet. The globose fruits are up to 15mm in diameter.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in rainforest from 30-1,200 m above sea level.

Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sabah, SE Asia,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A shrub or small tree. It grows 4-15 m tall. The trunk is 5-38 cm across. Plants are separately male and female. The fruit are round and 1.5 cm across.

How to Grow

The plant is often found in the wild in Kerangas forest - a type of moist, heath forest found on acidic, sandy soils that are low in nutrients, especially nitrogen. Plants grow in the wild on sand, clay and loam soils. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagation: Seed - when sown fresh it usually germinates in a few days.

Medicinal Uses

We have no specific information on this species, but the bark of several members of this genus is used to relieve eye inflammation.

Other Uses

We have no specific information for this species, but the bark of several members of this genus is used, along with other ingredients, as a dyestuff to colour silk yellow, red or mauve, using the dyeing process known as 'pekan' in Malay. Although we have no specific information for this species, most members of this genus produce an excellent timber, which can be used to build houses and boats and to make furniture. The wood is used for fuel. In common with other trees that produce their flowers and fruits on the trunk of the tree, members of this genus are generally considered to be good support trees for the climbing rattan palms, which are grown to provide material for basket making, weaving into furniture, making ropes etc.

References (1)

Ferns, Useful Tropical Plants.