Elaeocarpus serratus
| Scientific name | Elaeocarpus serratus [1] |
|---|---|
| Common name | Ceylon olive [2] |
| Genus | Elaeocarpus |
| Family | Elaeocarpaceae |
| Order | Oxalidales |
| Habit | Evergreen tree |
| Mature size | Up to 18 m [2] |
| Fruit | Fleshy, ovoid fruit about 3 cm long; pleasantly subacid [2] |
| |
Elaeocarpus serratus is an evergreen fruit tree known as Ceylon olive. It occurs from India and Nepal through Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia, in evergreen-forest settings ranging from low elevations to about 900 m in the Himalayas. [2]
Description[edit | edit source]
This species is an evergreen tree that can reach about 18 m. The reported habitat is evergreen forest, with a broad tropical and subtropical Asian range. [2] The accepted species identity is Elaeocarpus serratus in the family Elaeocarpaceae. [1]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native evergreen-forest setting, Elaeocarpus serratus experiences a consistently moist tropical environment. A genus-level cultivation inference is to use fertile soil that holds moisture while draining freely, avoiding stagnant saturation around the roots; the available species treatment gives this as a genus baseline rather than a measured species requirement. [2] Match irrigation to the site’s seasonal rainfall pattern and reduce watering when the root zone remains wet after rain.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
The native forest context indicates a humid environment with potential shade from surrounding vegetation. A genus-level cultivation inference is to begin with full sun to moderate shade and good airflow, then adjust exposure if foliage shows stress; this is a starting pattern, not a fixed species tolerance. [2]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The species is evergreen in its native forest habitat. [2] In cultivation, maintain more even root-zone moisture during the warm, actively growing period and avoid keeping a cool-season container mix persistently wet. Flowering and fruiting timing, cold limits, and a species-specific irrigation calendar vary with climate and are not given here.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
A genus-level propagation inference begins with fresh, fully developed seed and patience: the hard woody seed shell can produce very slow or erratic germination, sometimes taking two years or more. Carefully filing or cracking the shell to admit moisture is described as a possible treatment, but excessive damage can injure the embryo. Sow treated seed in containers in light shade and keep the medium evenly moist without waterlogging. [2]
The same genus guidance describes cuttings from almost ripe shoots set in sandy soil, with leaves retained. This is a genus-level method rather than a species-specific success schedule. [2]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
The fruit is ovoid and about 3 cm long. It is described as fleshy and pleasantly subacid, and the species is harvested from the wild as well as sometimes cultivated for its fruit. [2]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is eaten raw or cooked. Reported uses include curries and pickling in the manner of olives. [2] These culinary reports describe use, not a complete food-safety or toxicology assessment; remove that uncertainty by using only correctly identified fruit and established local culinary practice.
Photos[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Elaeocarpus serratus 06.JPG: photograph by Vinayaraj, Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 3.0. File page.
- Elaeocarpus serratus 15.JPG: photograph by Vinayaraj, Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 3.0. File page.
