Flacourtia rukam
Zoll. & Moritzi.
Salicaceae
Flacourtia euphlebia Merr.
Common Name: Rukam
Ripe fruits, some cut open to reveal flesh and seeds, compared with coin 24mm diameter
Photograph by: Michael Hermann
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Ripe fruits, some cut open to reveal flesh and seeds, compared with coin 24mm diameter
Photograph by: Michael Hermann
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Trunk of tree
Photograph by: Hungda
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
General Information
Rukam is an often spiny tree that can grow from 5 - 15 metres tall, occasionally to 20 metres. The bole is usually short and crooked[
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 plant is cultivated in some areas of the tropics, particularly in Asia, for its edible fruit[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
E. Asia - Malaysia.
Habitat
Its natural habitat is primary or secondary forest; often along rivers and the trees grow in the shade as well as in full sunlight[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 10.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
The plant grows best under humid tropical conditions up to an elevation of 1,500 metres above sea level[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
Prefers a position in full sun in a fertile, well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The tree appears to be fairly adaptable to a range of temperatures, rainfall and soil conditions[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
Plants are usually dioecious, though monoecious forms are occasionally found[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
]. Whilst female trees will often fruit in the absence of a male plant, for better crops both male and female plants should be grown[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked. Ripe fruits are purple, juicy and subacid, they are often eaten out of hand[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Rolling the fruit between the palms just before eating reduces the fruits natural astringency[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
]. The fruit is also used for making jams, jellies and preserves[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The globose fruit is about 25mm in diameter[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The beautifully red young shoots are eaten raw in salads and side dishes[
301- Title
- Cornucopia II
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications, California.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-2-5
- Description
- The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
Medicinal
The immature fruit is rich in tannins and is used to prepare a traditional medicine to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
,
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 juice of the leaves is applied to inflamed eye-lids[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
A root decoction is taken by women after childbirth[
303- Title
- World Agroforesty Centre
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.worldagroforestry.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
].
Other Uses
The wood is hard and strong and is used to make household utensils such as pestles and furniture[
306- Title
- Under-Utilized Tropical Fruits of Thailand. RAP Publication 2001/26
- Publication
-
- Author
- Suranant Subhadrabandhu
- Website
- http://www.fao.org/3/a-ab777e.pdf
- Publisher
- F. A. O., The United Nations, Bangkok.
- Year
- 2001
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed report on 35 fruit species that could have potential for increased production in Thailand. The report can be downloadd as a PDF from the internet.
].
Propagation
Seed - germionates readily and quickly[
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.
].
Grafting.
Root suckers.
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
