Common Name:

General Information

Octomeles sumatrana is a colossal, fast-growing, evergreen tree with a semi-globular crown with a pagoda-like branching habit. The tree can reach a height of 62 metres, with unconfirmed reports of specimens in excess of 80 metres[]. The straight bole, which has buttresses that can be 10 metres tall and 6 metres wide, can be unbranched for the first 30 metres and 250 - 400cm in diameter[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and timber. It is also cultivated as a pioneer species and for soil stabilization.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Habitat

Rainforests, especially along the sides of rivers, at elevations up to 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	50.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the moist, lowland tropics where it is generally found at elevations below 1,000 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 29 - 34°c, but can tolerate 20 - 38°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 5,000mm[].
Requires a sunny position[]. Succeeds in alluvial soils, clays and sandy loams[]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5.5, tolerating 4 - 6.5[].
Trees can be exceptionally fast growing, with one report of a 4-year old specimen having attained a height of 25 metres and a bole diameter of 47cm[].
Annual wood production potential is 25 - 40 cubic metres per hectare[].
Trees are resistant to fire damage[].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

A leaf extract is used to cure stomach-ache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The trees extensive root system binds the soil, making it an ideal plant for stabilizing river banks[].
The tree is actually a pioneer species in the rainforest, rapidly invading new banks of alluvial soil built up by the rivers, but unable to regenerate once other trees close the canopy below them[].

Other Uses

A dye is obtained from the bark[].

The heartwood is absent. The wood is light, relatively soft, coarse-textured, brittle and with poor resistance to decomposition. It is only suitable for use under cover where a weak, perishable timber will suffice, being employed to make match boxes, concrete moulds, pallets etc, and for pulp[325 451]. The colossal stems are, however, suitable for making large canoes[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a fairly short viability and should be sown before it is 12 months old[]. It does not have a dormancy, and pre-treatment is not necessary. It probably germinates better in a sunny position. Seeds are sown in a nursery seedbed and only just covered, Germination will usually take place within 7 days. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they have 4 leaves and place in semi-shade for one week before returning them to a sunny position[]. Plant out when 30cm tall[].

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