Common Name: Spanish Cherry

General Information

Spanish cherry is an evergreen tree with a dense, rounded, spreading crown; it usually grows from 15 - 30 metres tall, exceptionally to 40 metres. The bole is often short and divided into several large main branches, but it is sometimes branchless for up to 15 or even 20 metres; it can be up to 100cm in diameter, with buttresses either absent or up to 2 metres high[, ].
The tree provides food, medicine and a range of commodities for the local people. It is often cultivated in the tropics and subtropics, as an ornamental (where it is particularly valued for its fragrant flowers), in order to provide shade along roads and in gardens, and also for its wide range of uses[, , , ]. In some countries in tropical Asia (e.g. Indonesia) the wood is traded commercially, but it is probably traded in mixed consignments comprising the wood of many other Sapotaceae. In Africa it is used only very locally and is not traded[].
Although not generally seen as a threatened species, in some regions in Asia (such as The Philippines), Mimusops elengi is classified as a vanishing timber tree[].

Known Hazards

The sawdust is irritating to nose and throat[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, northern Australia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu.

Habitat

Humid lowland forests[]. Fairly common near the sea, but may also be found in rocky locations and inland forest at elevations up to 600 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the hot tropical lowlands[]. It thrives in areas with perhumid or slightly seasonal rainfall types, but is most commonly found in seasonally dry habitats[]. It is tolerant of light frosts[].
The tree grows best in a sunny position[, ], but is shade tolerant, retaining a full crown and reproducing satisfactorily under fairly dense shade[]. It prefers a deep, rich loam[, , ], but plants are adapted to a variety of soils[]. Fairly wind tolerant, trees can be grown in coastal sites[]. It can tolerate inundation of the soil for up to 2 months[].
Seedlings and trees grow slowly, but occasionally trees may reach a height of 34 metres in 20 years, with a bole diameter of 50cm[].
Trees may flower and fruit throughout the year. Infrequent visits of insects and bats have been observed, but pollination is most likely by wind. The stigma is receptive before the pollen is released, stimulating cross-pollination[].
Trees may differ markedly in size depending on their origin, which offers potential for selection and possibly breeding activities[].

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw, preserved or pickled[]. Yellow when ripe, they have a sweet flavour[]. The pulp is starchy with a floury texture[, ]. The fruit is insipid and/or astringent[, ]. They are said to taste like dates but to be more dry[]. The ovoid to oblong fruit is up to 35mm long and 16mm wide[].

An oil is obtained from the seed[]. Used for cooking[].
The seed kernel contains about 22% oil. The fatty acid composition of the refined oil is: oleic acid 64%, linoleic acid 14.5%, palmitic acid 11%, stearic acid 10% and behenic acid 0.5%. The nutritional quality of the refined oil is considered to be comparable with that of groundnut oil[].

Medicinal

The bark is astringent, bitter and tonic. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery[, ].
A decoction of the bark, sometimes mixed with the flowers, is used as a gargle to treat gum inflammation, toothache etc[]. It is also used to treat gonorrhoea, snakebites, fevers, wounds, scabies and eczema[, ]. It is often combined with tamarind bark (Tamarindus indica) then used as a lotion on skin complaints[].

The leaves are used to treat headache, toothache, wounds and sore eyes, and are smoked to cure infections of the nose and mouth[].

The flowers have been used as a remedy against diarrhoea[].

The young fruits have been employed in a gargle for treating sprue[].

The pounded seeds are used to cure obstinate constipation[].

Several triterpenes have been isolated from the plant, as well as steroidal glycosides[].
The major chemical compounds in the flowers are aromatic alcohols and esters[].
The ethyl-acetate-soluble fraction of an alcoholic extract of the bark showed anti-ulcer activity against experimental gastric ulcers; this activity was attributed to a decrease in gastric acid secretory activity along with strengthening of mucosal defensive mechanisms[].
A methanolic extract caused hypotensive activity; it may possess calcium-blocking activity[].

Other Uses

The flowers are very aromatic and retain their fragrance for a long time after being dried[]. They are used as a filling in pillows, strung in garlands or necklaces for decoration, or placed in linen-cupboards. An essential oil used in perfumery can be distilled from them[, , ].
The leaves contain an essential oil[].
The bark contains an essential oil[].

The seeds are used for making necklaces [].

The saponins from the seeds are effective against the plant pathogens Phytophthora palmivora and Colletotrichum capsici, and field trials in India showed that they can be used for control of these pathogens in betel pepper (Piper betle) plantations[].

An oil obtained from the seeds is used to make paint and for lighting[, ].

The bark has been used for tanning, but the tannin content is low[].
A brown dye is obtained from the bark[].

The heartwood is deep red or dark red-brown, often with darker streaks; it is not sharply demarcated from the paler, 5 - 7cm wide band of sapwood. The grain is straight, wavy or slightly interlocked; texture very fine to fine and even, occasionally with watered-silk figure on the tangential face of the sapwood; the taste is bitter and the wood contains saponin and lathers when rubbed with water. The wood is heavy; very hard; very strong and tough; very durable, even when exposed to the weather or in contact with the ground. It is reportedly resistant to marine borer attack and to dry-wood termites. The sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus. It is liable to end-splitting, warping and surface checking if not carefully seasoned. It is generally considered difficult to work, especially in sawing, due to the presence of silica, but is easier to work when still green; stellite-tipped saws are recommended; it finishes very well using sharp tools. The wood is used for heavy general construction, building purposes, boat and shipbuilding, piles, bridges, agricultural implements and oil mills[, ]. It is also used for flooring, bearings, doors and framing, poles and piles, foundation sills, railway sleepers, paving blocks, mine timber, furniture and cabinet work, vehicle bodies and wheels, turnery, tool handles, walking sticks, weaving shuttles, toys, sporting goods and musical instruments. A good-quality veneer and plywood can be manufactured from the wood[].
The tree also yields a good fuelwood[]. The energy value of the heartwood is 21,340 kJ/kg, that of the sapwood 21,090 kJ/kg[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in individul containers in a shaded position, it usually germinates within 17 - 82 days, with a success rate of about 70 - 90%. Seedlings can be planted out when 20 - 30cm tall[].
Seed can be stored for about 9 months and needs ‘after-ripening’ during the first month of storage[].
Greenwood cuttings. The rooting success of 10 - 15cm long cuttings with a diameter of 5 - 10mm is 70 - 90%[].
Air layering.
Grafting.

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