Planchonia

Overview

Planchonia valida, its native range is Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Peninsula Thailand to West and Central Malesia. The young leaves are eaten locally, the plant also has some local medicinal uses and a valuable timber. Young leaves - eaten raw as a vegetable. Eaten as lalab (a vegetable salad served with sambal) with rice. The wood is locally used, it is very hard and close-grained, seasons well and takes a fine polish. The fruits are used as fishing baits.

Vernacular Names

Putat paya (Malaysia).

Agroecology

Occurs in undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests up to 300 m altitude. Mostly on hillsides and ridges, but also along rivers and on alluvial sites. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Morphology

• Root - taproot system.
• Stem - straight, regular, bole up to 1.25 m in diameter. The wood is reddish brown with yellow speck.
• Leaves - alternate, simple, penni-veined, glabrous, toothed margin.
• Flowers - 40 mm diameter, white-pinkish-red, with many protruding stamens, flowers placed in short racemes.
• Fruits - 57 mm long, green, fleshy berry/capsule with several seeds.
• Seed - egg-shaped.

Cultivation

An emergent tree of undisturbed mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations up to 300 m. Mostly on hillsides and ridges, but also along rivers and on alluvial sites. In secondary forests usually present as a pre-disturbance remnant tree.

Chemical Constituents

Alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and steroids.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• The bark is used as a treatment against skin disease.
• It is used to treat diarrhea, internal injuries, aches and pains, as blood booster, for stamina, a mixture of postnatal bath water, a mixture of cold powder to protect the skin from sun exposure.