Cerbera odollam
Gaertn.
Apocynaceae
This species has often been confused with Cerbera manghas, and is often used interchangeably with that species[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cerbera dilatata Markgr.
Cerbera forsteri Seem.
Cerbera lactaria Buch.-Ham. ex Spreng.
Excoecaria ovatifolia Noronha
Odollamia malabarica Raf.
Tanghinia lactaria (Buch.-Ham. ex Spreng.) G.Don
Tanghinia odollam (Gaertn.) G.Don
Common Name:
Growing as a street tree
Photograph by: Yosri
GNU Free Documentation License
Growing as a street tree
Photograph by: Yosri
GNU Free Documentation License
Trunk and canopy of mature tree
Photograph by: Mokkie
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowers and leaves
Photograph by: Tau?olunga
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
The poisonous pong pong fruit - with skin (green) and without skin (brown).
Photograph by: Mokkie
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Cerbera odollam is an evergreen shrub or tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall in parts of its range, though is usually smaller. The unbuttressed bole can be 20 - 90cm in diameter[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
701- Title
- Asean Tropical Plant Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/index.jsp
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details, with photos, of many of the plants growing in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. Gives some details of plant uses along with a description of the plant and its range.
].
The plant is sometimes gathered from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of fibre, oil, wood etc. The tree is sometimes grown as an ornamental[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Known Hazards
The whole plant, but especially the seeds, is very poisonous[
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines to northern Australia and the western Pacific.
Habitat
Secondary forests, near rivers, streams or in swamp forest and behind mangroves[
701- Title
- Asean Tropical Plant Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/index.jsp
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details, with photos, of many of the plants growing in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. Gives some details of plant uses along with a description of the plant and its range.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Cerbera should preferably be grown in full light in a fertile moist but well-drained loam with additional leaf mould[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The leaves are used externally to treat ringworm[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
A leaf decoction is added to an aromatic bath after childbirth[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The bark, leaves and latex are considered to be emetic and purgative[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The bark is used externally to treat ringworm[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The seed, and in particular the seed oil, is toxic and strongly purgative[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The oil is applied externally to treat scabies and is used as a hair tonic that also kills head lice[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The flowers are used as a treatment for haemorrhoids[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Other Uses
A fibre is obtained from the inner bark[
387- Title
- Economic Products of India. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Watt. G.
- Publisher
- Government of India: Calcutta.
- Year
- 1883
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although over 100 years old, it still contains a wealth of information on useful plants. Many of the botanical names have been changed since then, so you have to check for up to date names. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
,
454- Title
- Useful Fiber Plants of the World
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dodge C.R.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- USDA; Washington.
- Year
- 1897
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
An oil obtained from the seed is used for lighting and for anointing the head[
387- Title
- Economic Products of India. Volume 1.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Watt. G.
- Publisher
- Government of India: Calcutta.
- Year
- 1883
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although over 100 years old, it still contains a wealth of information on useful plants. Many of the botanical names have been changed since then, so you have to check for up to date names. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. It is used as a hair tonic[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
The wood is of light to medium weight of low durability and works easily. It is used for indoor or non-durable applications[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
701- Title
- Asean Tropical Plant Database
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://211.114.21.20/tropicalplant/index.jsp
- Publisher
-
- Year
-
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse details, with photos, of many of the plants growing in the tropical forests of southeast Asia. Gives some details of plant uses along with a description of the plant and its range.
].
A good charcoal can be obtained from the wood[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Propagation
Seed -
Cerbera is usually propagated by seed but can also be propagated by ripewood cuttings[
310- Title
- Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://proseanet.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
