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Useful Tropical Plants

Jagera pseudorhus

(A.Rich.) Radlk.

Sapindaceae

+ Synonyms

Cupania pseudorhus A.Rich.

Common Name: Foam Bark Tree

Jagera pseudorhus
Cultivated fruiting tree in Brisbane, Australia
Photograph by: Tatters ?
Creative Commons License
Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus Jagera pseudorhus

General Information

Jagera pseudorhus is an evergreen tree with an umbrella-shaped crown and ferny, weeping foliage. Usually a small tree up to 10 metres tall, though specimens up to 30 metres tall have been recorded[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
The saponins in the bark have been used as soap and as a foaming agent[
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

The seed capsules are covered in fine, penetrating hairs that make handling them unpleasant[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
All parts of the plant, but especially the bark, contain saponins46]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References


Range

Australia - New South Wales and Queensland.

Habitat

Lowland, coastal rainforests, usually in better soils, and along the banks of creeks[
156
Title
Useful Wild Plants in Australia.
Publication
 
Author
Cribb. A. B. and J. W.
Publisher
William Collins Pty Ltd. Sidney
Year
1981
ISBN
0-00-216441-8
Description
A very readable book.
,
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height8.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in fairly moist, subtropical to tropical lowland areas.

Edible Uses

The saponins in the bark have been used as a foaming agent to put a 'head' on cordials[
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.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

All parts of the plant contain saponins and produce foam if agitated in water[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
]. The saponins are most concentrated in the bark, and this has been used as a soap.

Propagation

Seed - it has a limited viability and needs to be sown when ripe. However, it is easier to wait until the seed capsules have dried and opened to obtain the seed. Germination usually occurs within 2 weeks[
694
Title
Australian Rainforest Plants Volumes 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Nicholson N. & H.
Publisher
Terania Rainforest Publishing; New South Wales.
Year
2007
ISBN
9-78095894-3628
Description
Beautiful set of booklets with a terse description of over 600 species and their habitat, often including some of their uses and notes on their cultivation, plus at least one, excellent photograph.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Jagera+pseudorhus>

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