Pouteria macrantha (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Pouteria macrantha (Merr.) Baehni

Protologue: Candollea 9: 328 (1942).

Synonyms

• Sideroxylon macranthum Merr. (1905).

Vernacular names

• Indonesia: sasangkangan (Sulawesi), suing (Moluccas)
• Philippines: white nato (general), palak-palak (Tagalog), kalamuting (Iloko).

Distribution

The Philippines, North Sulawesi and the Moluccas.

Uses

The timber is used in the Philippines as nyatoh for carving, inlaying, cabinet work, picture frames and implements. The pulp of the fruit is edible.

Observations

• A fairly large tree up to 40 m tall, with straight bole up to 80 cm in diameter, but often less (about 25 m tall and 60 cm in diameter).
• Leaves clustered at tip of twigs, narrowly obovate or lanceolate, with distinct irregularly reticulate or more or less transverse tertiary venation, initially often puberulous but glabrescent on both sides.
• Flowers in 5-9-flowered axillary clusters, borne on rather stout 3-6 mm long pedicels.
• Fruit subglobose, 4-6.5 cm in diameter, puberulous and greenish.

In the Philippines P. macrantha is common in primary forests at low altitudes. The wood is medium-heavy, with density of 530-700 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content, seasons well (but rapid drying is needed), and works and finishes well; only suitable for indoor uses.

Selected sources

36, 175, 317, 480, 484, 486, 579.

Main genus page

• Pouteria

Authors

• R.H.M.J. Lemmens (selection of species)