Lithocarpus celebicus
(Miq.) Rehder
(c) Muhammad Iqbal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Muhammad Iqbal
(c) Muhammad Iqbal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Seeds
We have no specific information for this species, but the seed (or acorn) is a rich source of carbohydrates and would almost certainly have been eaten by traditional peoples, especially in times of shortage. The main disadvantage is that the seed is also likely to contain bitter-tasting, astringent tannins. Traditionally, these tannins would have been largely removed either by leaching the seeds in water or by baking them. The seeds can be cooked whole or be dried and ground into a powder that can be used to make a gruel or can be added to flour for making bread, cakes etc. The ovoid-conical seed can be 20 - 25mm long and 17 - 23mm wide.
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows between 20-1,200 m above sea level.
Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, SE Asia,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 10-40 m tall. There are buttresses on the trunk. These can be 1 m tall.
How to Grow
Lithocarpus celebicus is a plant of the moist tropics, where it is usually found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. The varous species in this genus usually grow in regions where there can be year-round rainfall, generally disliking dry seasons. In the wild, Lithocarpus species are mainly found in well-drained soils, often growing on slopes. This species prefers clay soils in the wild, though in cultivation most species are tolerant of a range of soil textures and prefer an acid to neutral pH. Young plants usually grow sucessfully in the shade of woodland, but older trees like a more sunny position.
Propagation: Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool, but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.
Other Uses
The bark of most species is rich in tannins and can be used as a dye and preservative for ropes etc. The tree is a major exportable timber. No further information is given, but the following is a general description of Lithocarpus timber from trees growing in southeast Asia:- The heartwood is yellow-brown, red-brown or dark red-brown; it is not always clearly demarcated from the lighter-coloured sapwood. The texture is rather coarse and uneven; the grain fairly straight but sometimes interlocked; there is a true oak-line silver figure prominent on the radial surface. The wood is strong to very strong; hard to very hard; moderately heavy to heavy; moderately durable and very difficult to treat. It seasons fairly slowly, without any defects except for some staining, slight bowing and end-checking; shrinkage is high. It is easy to saw when green, but slightly difficult to work when dried; planing is easy and the planed surface is smooth; turned wood has a rough surface when finished. Nailing properties are poor. A medium hardwood, it is suitable for medium to heavy construction under cover, furniture making, interior finishing, panelling, parquet flooring etc. It is used locally for purposes such as fence post, mining props, shingles, boat building, and for making tool handles, rice pounder, poles for carts etc. The wood makes a good fuel and can be used to make charcoal.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Lithocarpus celebicus is a species of flowering plant in the beech family, Fagaceae. It is a tree native to the Philippines, Sulawesi, Maluku Islands, and New Guinea. Lithocarpus celebicus is a predominant canopy tree in Sulawesi's mid-montane rain forests (1500–2000 meters elevation), together with Lithocarpus menadoensis and species of Myrtaceae and Agathis. The species has a large population and across a wide range, and is assessed as least concern by the IUCN.
Names & Synonyms
References (1)
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
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