Archidendron globosum

(Blume) Nielsen

Pokok bongak, Coastal dog fruit

FabaceaeFruitPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Pods, Fruit

The acidic fruit are used in curries and chutneys.

Known Hazards

Although we have no specific information for this species, the seeds of several other members of this genus contain the amino acid derivative djenkolic acid. Ingestion of seed containing this substance can cause the formation of sharp needle-like crystals of djenkolic acid in the kidney or urinary tract. In severe cases, crystals of djenkolic acid have been found in urine. Indeed, people who are suffering from djenkolism show similar symptoms to those suffering from kidney or urinary stones, a condition for which it has been frequently mistaken.

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. Trees grow in dense lowland and hill rainforest. They grow from sea level to 1,000 m altitude.

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, SE Asia, Singapore,

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 tree. It grows up to 30 m high and can have a trunk 90 cm across. The small branches are round and red-brown. Near the end they have short rusty hairs. The leaves can be 6-20 cm long divided into a compound leaf. There can be 1-3 pairs of first level leaflets 5-20 cm long with secondary leaflets in 4-7 pairs and 5-17 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. (The leaves vary in size and number of leaflets.) The flower clusters are at the ends of branches or in the axils of leaves towards the ends of branches. The flower heads can be 40 cm by 40 cm made up of 25-30 flowers with very short stalks. Flowers have 5 parts and are of both sexes. The fruit are pods which are reddish brown both outside and inside. They are curved almost into a circle which is 6-7 cm across. The pod splits open along one side. The seeds are bluish-black and oval. They are 25 mm by 10-15 mm. They remain attached to the pod.

How to Grow

It is grown from seed.

Medicinal Uses

The roots are used as a poultice on boils.

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark yellow, the sapwood white. The wood is soft, when freshly cut it has a somewhat disagreeable turnip smell. It is used locally for beams etc.

Production

Flowers occur from January to April and then June and December. Pods occur in January and September.

Notes

There are 90 Archidendron species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Names & Synonyms

Lulai bongak, Lulai merah, Pohon kerdas, Pokok lempong

Aberama globosa (Blume) Kosterm.Abarema kiahii Kosterm.Abarema trichophylla auct. non (Kosterm.) Kosterm.Albizia rostrata Blume ex Miq.Feuilleea rostrata (Blume ex Miq.) O. KuntzeFeuilleea similis O. Kuntze.Inga globosa BlumePithocellobium affine Baker ex Benth.Pithecellobium globosum (Blume) Kosterm.Pithecellobium rostratum (Blume ex Miq.) Miq.

References (6)

Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 464 (As Pithecellobium globosum)
Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 2 (I-Z) p 1789 (As Pithecellobium affine)
Nielsen, 1992, Mimosaceae, Flora Malesiana ser 1, 11(1) p 104
Slik, F., www.asianplant.net
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 135
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew