Propagated by cutting or by seed obtained from mother trees with only large seeds used. Wash seeds to remove the slimy coating and remove the horny part of the pericarp. Seed should be sown fresh but if short-term storage is necessary the seed should not be allowed to dry out and can only be stored for up to 3 months. Germination begins within 10 days and 80-100% germination is achieved within 35-40 days after sowing. Young seedlings potted when they have 4 leaves. Older seedlings are hard to transplant. Seedlings are raised under shade (50-70% of full light intensity) and should be planted at less than one year old, before the roots grow outside the pot. Disturbing the roots may be fatal. Space at 8-12 m in square or hexagonal patterns at a density of 100-120 trees/ha. Best planting time is during rainy season and watering may be needed during the first 2 years. Soil at the base of the plant should be raised with drainage pathways constructed to avoid waterlogging. Dead branches should be removed from the interior of the tree so the developing fruit gets sufficient light and to check for the spread of pests. Mulching and fertilizer recommended.
Native to
Region
Exotic in
SE Asia
Indonesia
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Tree Benefits and Uses
- Food
- Livestock Forage
- Fuelwood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Product
The seeds are eaten after boiling or roasting, dried and salted as table nuts, or ground to make flour. The young fruit is cooked as a vegetable or pickled and canned. The fruit is eaten fresh or made into various local delicacies ('dodol' and 'kolak' in Java), chutneys and jellies, or reduced to a concentrate or powder for preparing drinks. The young leaves are readily eaten by cattle and other livestock. The wood is resistant to termite attack and fungal decay, and makes high quality furniture and handles for agricultural tools, musical instruments, and construction materials. Small and medium branches are used as fuelwood, and the bark produces tannins and is occasionally used to make cordage and cloth. Wood particles are used for yellow dye, and the tree also produces latex that is employed as a household cement for mending china and for caulking boats. Several reports indicate it is a potential anti-malarial plant, and it can be sold at local markets.
- Coffee Shade
- Windbreak
- Erosion Control
Javan loris feeding tree