Helicia robusta — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves

The young shoots and leaves are eaten raw.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows in slightly open forest up to 1,200 m above sea level. It is often along rivers and in locations that are occasionally flooded.

Asia, Brunei, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand,

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 large tree. It grows 17 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. There are often teeth along the edge. The flowers are 13 mm across. They are white to orange. The fruit are 3.5 cm across. They are fleshy and green to purple.

How to Grow

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Other Uses

The wood is heavy and hard. It is used in house construction and for the shafts of axes. It is not a first class timber.

Notes

There are about 90 Helicia species mostly in SE Asia with some in N Australia.

Names & Synonyms

Bronsop, Buak-buak, Buntal, Daukyan, Daukyat, Jaring jaringan jawa, Kendung, Korodo, Luan, Medang keladi, Medang lalang, Mot, Palis, Pohon kendung, Pohon maributan, Ponsch, Taukyat, Watutu

Helicia castaneaefolia Meisn.Helicia cumingiana Presl.Helicia cumingiana var. parvifolia Merr.Helicia glabrata Meisn.Helicia integra Merr.Helicia integrifolia ElmerHelicia javanica BlumeHelicia longiflora Merr.Helicia oligophlebia Merr.Helicia philippinensis Meisn.Helicia travancorica Bedd. ex Hook.f.Helittophyllum javanicum BlumeRoupala glabrata Wall.Roupala robusta Roxb.Rupala serrata Reinw. ex Blume

References (11)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 260
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 1151 (As Helicia javanica)
Heyne, K., 1927, p 588 (As Helicia javanica)
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 215 (As Helicia javanica)
Ochse p 623 (As Helicia javanica)
Sleumer, H., 1955, Proteaceae in Flora Malesiana, Ser 1 Vol 5(2) p 184
Slik, F., www.asianplant.net
Sosef, M. S. M., Hong, L. T., & Prawirohatmodjo, S., (Eds.), 1998, Timber tree: Lesser-known timbers. Plant Resources of South-East Asia, 5(3), p 284
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 318
Suwardi, A. B., et al, 2020, Wild edible fruits generate substantial income for local people of the Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh Tamiang Region. Ethnobotany Research & Applications 20:11
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew