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Useful Tropical Plants

Ochrosia oppositifolia

(Lam.) K.Schum.

Apocynaceae


There has been considerable dispute about whether Ochrosia and Neisosperma are distinct genera. We are following the treatment by Hendrian in Revision of Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) in Malesia; Blumea 49: pp 101-128; 2004 - here they are treated as two sections of the genus Ochrosia[
1037
Title
Revision of Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 49: pp 101-128
Author
Hendrian
Website
http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/564983
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
0006-5196
Description
A detailed revision of the genus Ochrosia in Malesia.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

+ Synonyms

Bleekeria salubris (Rumph. ex Raf.) Hassk.

Calpicarpum lamarckii G.Don

Calpicarpum oppositifolium (Lam.) Boiteau,

Cerbera fruticosa Roxb.

Cerbera muricata Lam.

Cerbera oppositifolia Lam.

Cerbera parviflora G.Forst.

Cerbera platyspermos Gaertn.

Cerbera salutaris Lour.

Kopsia lamarckii G.Don ex DC.

Lactaria oppositifolia (Lam.) Kuntze

Lactaria salubris Rumph. ex Raf.

Neisosperma muricatum Raf.

Neisosperma oppositifolium (Lam.) Fosberg & Sachet

Ochrosia commutata K.Schum.

Ochrosia cowleyi F.M.Bailey

Ochrosia parviflora (G.Forst.) Hensl.

Ochrosia platyspermos (Gaertn.) A.DC.

Ochrosia salubris (Rumph. ex Raf.) Blume

Common Name:

Ochrosia oppositifolia
Tree growing in native habitat
Photograph by: Lauren Gutuerrez
Creative Commons License
Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia Ochrosia oppositifolia

General Information

Ochrosia oppositifolia is a tree usually growing from 6 - 25 metres tall, though it can range from as small as 2.5 metres up to 45 metres, exceptionally to 60 metres. The bole can be 50cm in diameter, sometimes with small buttresses[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
899
Title
Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
Year
2002
ISBN
983-2181-27-5
Description
A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
,
1037
Title
Revision of Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 49: pp 101-128
Author
Hendrian
Website
http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/564983
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
0006-5196
Description
A detailed revision of the genus Ochrosia in Malesia.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use, mainly as a food and medicine, but also for its wood and fibre. It is grown as an ornamental, being valued for the shade it provides[
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

Although we have no specific records of toxicity, it is worth noting that the sap of several species in this genus is toxic[
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

1037
Title
Revision of Ochrosia (Apocynaceae) in Malesia
Publication
Blumea 49: pp 101-128
Author
Hendrian
Website
http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/564983
Publisher
 
Year
2004
ISBN
0006-5196
Description
A detailed revision of the genus Ochrosia in Malesia.

Range

E. Asia - Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea to the western Pacific.

Habitat

Coastal forest, bush or open localities, only occasionally far inland, often on limestone, at elevations up to 100 metres[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Coastal vegetation on sandy and rocky shores[
899
Title
Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
Publication
 
Author
Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
Publisher
Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
Year
2002
ISBN
983-2181-27-5
Description
A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitTree
Height18.00 m
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details



The fruits have a thick, fibrous mesocarp which allows them to float and be dispersed by sea currents[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Edible Uses

The fruit contains two flat, edible seeds that taste rather like coconut[
354
Title
Plants of Guam
Publication
 
Author
Moore P.H. & McMakin P.
Website
http://university.uog.edu/cals/people/POG/scipn.htm
Publisher
University of Guam.
Year
1979
ISBN
 
Description
Brief details, usually with a photo, of plants native to the island of Guam, often together with some information on their uses. An online version is available.
].

Medicinal

The leaves are febrifuge, stomachic and 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.
]. A leaf decoction is used to wash the abdomen of women after childbirth[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The seeds are used in the treatment of bilious disorders, in particular as an antidote to the effect of eating poisonous fish or crabs[
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 bitter, febrifuge and stomachic[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
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 decoction is taken to purify the blood, as an appetizer, purgative and carminative, and in high doses as an abortifacient[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The wood is febrifugal and stomachi[
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.
]. Cups made from the wood will give a bitter taste to drinks when allowed to stand for some time. The drinks are then taken as a stomachic[
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 root is used in the treatment of bilious disorders, in particular as an antidote to the effect of eating poisonous fish or crabs[
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.
].

Research on active constituents in Ochrosia has focused on anticancer compounds following the isolation of the indole alkaloids ellipticine, elliptinine, 9-methoxy-ellipticine and isoreserpiline from the Asian species Ochrosia elliptica[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The main compounds present in the bark of Ochrosia oppositifolia are reserpiline, isoreserpiline and ochropposine. Numerous other indole alkaloids have been recorded in the bark, including epi-rauvanine, bleekerine, ochropposinine, reserpinine and isoreserpinine, but no ellipticine or derivatives[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The principal constituent of the leaves is isoreserpiline, with 10-hydroxy-apparicine and 10-methoxy-apparicine as minor compounds[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Other Uses

The silky down of the fruit yields a substance used for packing, wadding etc[
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.
].

The yellowish-white wood is hard. It is used for construction[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The wood is used for fuel[
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 - if the fruits are planted without removal of the pulp then germination is poor and only takes place after about 8 months[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Ochrosia+oppositifolia>

Comments

bill 02nd December 2015 19:02
you can eat the fruits

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