Baccaurea lanceolata
| Scientific name | Baccaurea lanceolata |
|---|---|
| Common names | Larap; Lanjut; liposu; limpahung |
| Genus | Baccaurea |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Growth form | Tree; evergreen habit is not separately documented |
| Native range | Borneo, Java, Malaya, the Philippines, Sumatra, and Thailand |
| Mature size | 3–30 m; commonly described around 20 m |
| Climate/site | Hot, humid lowland tropics; rainforest, riverine forest, and slopes |
| Propagation | Fresh seed; both sexes are needed for fruit and seed |
| Fruit | Globose berries, about 38 × 60 mm when fresh; sour pericarp and arillode |
| Harvest | Can occur throughout the year in suitable conditions |
| Years to fruit | N/A; a supported species-specific value is not established |
Baccaurea lanceolata is a Southeast Asian fruit tree known by names including larap, lanjut, liposu, and limpahung. It grows in humid forest habitats and is gathered from the wild as well as planted occasionally in fruit gardens. The sour pericarp and arillode are edible, commonly with salt or sugar.[1][2]
Description[edit | edit source]
This is a variable tree with a dense crown, ranging from about 3 to 30 m tall; the bole is unbuttressed and may reach 60 cm in diameter.[1] Leaves are simple and alternate.[3] Flowers are produced on inflorescences attached to the trunk or older branches, a cauliflorous habit characteristic of the genus.[3] The species is dioecious, so individual trees are functionally male or female.[1]
GBIF accepts Baccaurea lanceolata as the species name and places it in Phyllanthaceae and Malpighiales.[2] Plants of the World Online records the native range as Borneo, Java, Malaya, the Philippines, Sumatra, and Thailand.[4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In native forest, the species occurs from lowland sites to about 1,300 m, including primary and secondary rainforest, riverine forest, and slopes.[1] It grows in sandy clay to loam soils.[1] A garden site should therefore combine reliable moisture and organic matter with drainage that prevents prolonged stagnant water; the latter is a cultivation precaution based on its forest and slope settings rather than a measured species limit.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
This is a plant of the hot, humid lowland tropics.[1] High atmospheric humidity and protection from desiccating winds are appropriate for young plants. The available species account does not establish a precise light requirement, so filtered light or open sun should be selected based on local heat, water supply, and acclimation rather than treated as a fixed rule.
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Flowering and fruiting may occur throughout the year in the Malesian range.[3] Maintain even moisture during active growth and fruit development; reduce irrigation only when rainfall and soil water remain adequate. A distinct dry-season dormancy or a universal harvest month has not been established for this species.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Fresh seed usually germinates within a few days.[5] Sow cleaned seed promptly in a moist, well-drained medium and avoid allowing it to dry. Because the species is dioecious, a fruiting planting needs both male and female trees; seedlings cannot be sexed reliably from their appearance at planting.[1] Species-specific evidence for cuttings, air-layering, grafting, and the age of first fruiting is insufficient to give dependable instructions or a years-to-fruit figure.
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The small flowers are borne on trunk- or branch-attached inflorescences, and flowering and fruiting can take place throughout the year.[3] Fruits are globose berries borne in clusters of up to about 20; a fresh fruit is reported at approximately 38 × 60 mm.[1] Harvest when the fruit has reached full size and the rind has begun to change from its immature color; a species-specific external maturity index is not established, so local fruit color and softness should be used cautiously.
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The pericarp and arillode are edible but sour, and are commonly eaten with sugar or salt.[1] In Sabah, fruit juice and sun-dried slices are used locally, including in cooking.[6] The tree is also gathered for local medicinal practices and has hard, durable wood used for house construction.[5] Traditional medicinal preparations are local practices, not established treatments; the species account lists no known hazards but does not provide modern clinical safety evidence.[1]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [5] PROSEA: Baccaurea.
Image credits[edit | edit source]
No image is included; the available file leads require individual subject and rendered-image verification before use.